MCA president Liow Tiong Lai has described DAP as a privately-owned firm and not a political party due to its top positions being held by the same individuals.

"DAP is not a party but a Sdn Bhd. If you look at MCA, 10 people have become president.

"But he has remained there until now. When he was chairperson, he was the most powerful person. When he was publicity secretary, he was also the most powerful. That is DAP's legacy," he said.

Liow was responding to the possibility of DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, who is also Gelang Patah MP, contesting in a different seat in the next general election.

The MCA president said the people can evaluate the difference in services provided by MCA and DAP.

"If their 'adviser' himself can abandon his responsibilities, what is the meaning of DAP?" he asked, according to a report in the BN Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) portal.

Furthermore, Liow said it is common for Lim to hop from one seat to another.

"It is his style to run from one place to another to avoid responsibility - from Malacca to Penang, to Ipoh, and then Johor.

"The people have seen who he really is. And I also say DAP has no principles... We know DAP is 'Kit Siang & Son Sdn Bhd'," he added in reference to Lim's son Guan Eng, who is the party's secretary-general.

Yesterday, Bernama reported that Lim has left it to the DAP leadership to decide on which constituency he should contest in the next general election.

The veteran politician said he did not know whether he would have to defend the Gelang Patah seat or contest elsewhere.

He also declined to comment if he would contest in Penang where his son is the chief minister.

Asked about talk that former law minister Zaid Ibrahim might contest in Gelang Patah, he replied: "Is that true or is it just a rumour?"

Kit Siang, who first became an elected representative in 1969, defeated former Johor menteri besar Abdul Gani Othman for the Gelang Patah seat in the 2013 general election.