Negeri MCA tense as rivals eye Seremban seat

There are three main contenders, but they were all losers in the last election.

SEREMBAN: Tension is building up in Negeri Sembilan MCA as the general election approaches and three senior leaders set their sights on the Seremban parliamentary seat.

They are Wanita MCA chief Yu Chok Tow, Negeri Sembilan MCA chief Yeow Chai Thiam and Seremban MCA chief Peter Lai Yit Fee.

All three were trounced by the DAP in the last election—Yu in Seremban, Yeow in Rasah and Lai in Nilai.

“An internal crisis has started,” said a source close to state MCA leaders but apparently aligned to Lai.

“By merit, Lai is the one entitled to contest. He is, after all, the MCA boss in Seremban.”

The source sees Yeow as a bigger threat than Yu to Lai’s chances of being nominated for the seat.

“Yu will not get the support of Seremban MCA as she was already fielded in Seremban in the 12th general election and lost.” She lost to John Fernandez by nearly 4,000 votes.

“Also, she is not on good terms with the party president. But she feels the party should field her again as she still holds a national level post.

“Lai’s main challenger now is Yeow because, as state MCA chairman, technically he has the right to contest any seat he wishes.”

According to the source, Lai’s camp is arguing that Yeow, as Rasah MCA chief, should contest there instead.

At a dinner here last August, Lai’s deputy, Ho Yok Kee, spoke publicly about Seremban MCA’s determination to oppose any attempt to field anyone from outside the division, and that would apply even to Yeow.

But Yeow’s men argue that Lai does not command anymore support from voters. In the last election, Lai lost to Yap Yew Feng by 1,258 votes.

They claim that their boss is well known among the Chinese in Negeri Sembilan and stands a good chance of winning in Seremban despite his decisive defeat in Rasah in 2008. Negeri Sembilan DAP chairman Loke Siew Fook beat him by 13,151 votes.

Sources said none of the three is interested in Rasah this time around.