Its secretary-general, Ong Ka Chuan, said Gopeng parliamentary constituency was one of the party’s strongholds from 1986 to 2004 until its loss in the 2008 and 2013 general elections.

He said wresting Gopeng seat from the opposition could be achieved if the election machinery works hard and gives its undivided support to the candidate and party.

“Winning the Gopeng seat is not impossible provided we receive support from party members and the public,” he told reporters after opening the Gopeng MCA division annual general meeting here today.

Ong said MCA would redouble efforts to strengthen the party machinery to regain the support of voters, especially the Chinese.

“We hope that GE14 will bring good news to MCA at the state and national level.”

Former MCA president Tan Koon Swan won the Gopeng seat in 1986 while Dr Ting Chew Peh won the seat in 2004. They contested on the Barisan Nasional ticket.