He pointed out there was no longer a single dominant political party after May 9 when Umno along with Barisan Nasional lost the federal government for the first time since independence in 1957.

MCA and MIC won one and two parliamentary seats respectively.

Speaking at the launch of his team’s party election manifesto, Gan said MCA must reinvent itself to stay relevant.

“The GE14 outcome is a very clear message for us,” he said.

Gan said the party must own up to its mistakes and go back to the drawing board after 69 years of existence.

The hour-long launch included a video clip about the beginning of MCA in 1949, the Emergency (1948 -1960) along with Pakatan Harapan forming the new government after this year’s general election.

“MCA has to be independent and self-assured in order to restart all over,” he said.

Gan said MCA’s political roadmap for moderation and inclusiveness with a focus on the Federal Constitution would be the way forward for all Malaysians.

While some in MCA may be afraid of losing Malay votes should they leave Barisan, Gan said the party could forge alliances with other parties with similar interests and purposes when the time was right.

Gan also used a Chinese saying “The butterflies are attracted to a garden in full bloom” to make his point about the future of the party and regaining its past glory.

“But our focus right now is to become a good opposition.

“There is no short cut but a long and difficult journey ahead to regain the people’s support and MCA’s dignity as a nation-building party,” he said.

Gan and his running mate Datuk Tee Siew Kiong, who is eyeing the deputy president post, along with others vying for the four vice-president posts and 25 central committee member posts, are known as team GanTee.

They are taking on team WeeMah which includes Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, the current deputy president, and Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, who are vying for the top two positions respectively.