MCA president Ong Ka Ting today announced that all party leaders holding ministerial posts will contest in the general election, in a total of 40 parliamentary and 90 state seats.

This puts an end to speculation that vice-presidents Chua Jui Meng (right) and Dr Fong Chan Onn, both of whom are ministers, would be axed from the list.

Ong said 30 percent of the candidates will be new faces and that the number of candidates from the Wanita and Youth wings would be increased. The names and constituencies of the nominees were not released today, but an announcement is expected tomorrow.

In the 1999 general election, MCA fielded candidates in 35 parliamentary and 77 state seats - its allocation has been increased by five parliamentary and 13 states seats this time around.

Speaking to reporters at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Ong dismissed the notion that any particular faction within MCA is being favoured, saying that all members are "working in harmony".

Wanita MCA chief Dr Ng Yen Yen, who was at the press conference, said the party had increased the allocation for women candidates to 12, compared to seven in 1999.

The additional seats are in the parliamentary constituencies of Bukit Gantang (Perak) and Gelang Patah (Johor), and the state seats of Sitiawan (Perak), Yong Peng (Johor) and Kajang (Selangor).

Ng said the candidates comprise graduates and professionals such as engineer Tan Chew Mooi, who will stand in the Bukit Bintang (Kuala Lumpur) parliamentary seat.

MCA confident

Ong, exuding confidence, said the opposition would be no threat to MCA and that voters would not be easily induced to vote for those parties.

"We will tell the voters of our plans and we will carry these out to the best of our ability," he said.

Ipoh Timur incumbent Thong Fah Chong (left), who will face DAP strongman Lim Kit Siang, said his rival was not a threat "because the people know that Barisan Nasional has brought stability both to Perak and the country".

"I had expected Kit Siang to make the announcement this morning. He is taking me on as he wants to see if the Chinese accept BN," he added.

"The constituency was previously under DAP but the people lost confidence in the party as it let down the people too many times."