Boon or curse for MCA?

The Chinese-based party is fighting for survival, being caught in multi-cornered fights in 11 of its 37 parliamentary seats

PETALING JAYA: If the 13th general election is the most fiercely-contested election in Malaysian history, then MCA is the party which really hopes to survive the test.

MCA, having taken a beating in the 2008 GE when it won only 15 out of the 40 parliamentary seats contested, is eager to make a comeback and reclaim its former glory in the GE13.

In a bid to rally its comrades to give their best, MCA boss Dr Chua Soi Lek has made a serious declaration that should the party fare worst than the last GE, it would not join the BN Cabinet.

However, following the nominations last Saturday, it appears that MCA has begun its critical test with double blows. This is because the number of parliamentary seats it is contesting have been reduced from the 40 to 37, with Umno taking up the balance.

In the contest for the 37 seats, 11 are caught in a surprise multi-cornered fight with no clear advantage for MCA.

In the Kedah constituency of Alor Setar, MCA vice-president Chor Chee Heung is facing a four-way tussle against PKR’s Gooi Hsiao Leung, Berjasa’s Abdul Fisol Mohd Isa and Malaysia United People Party’s Jawahar Raja Abdul Wahid.

At a glance, it looks like the two Malay candidates could help split the Malay votes in favour of Chor, who survived the 2008 general election with a razor-thin 184 majority.

However, a closer look shows that Chinese voters in the area have increased 1%, to 34% since 2008, and that equals to 4,069 additional voters.

It is unlikely that the split among Malay voters for Independents could offset the hike of Chinese votes going to the opposition, which means Chor would not benefit in the battle.

Independent candidates

In the Padang Serai seat, MCA Wanita vice-chief Heng Seai Kie faces a five-way tussle with PKR’s N Surendran, incumbent N Gobalakrishnan, Berjasa’s Hamidi Abu Hassan and Independent Othman Wawi.

Heng was parachuted to the constituency at the 11th hour to the chargin of some grassroots members. It remains to be seen if Heng, a relatively newcomer, can counter the influence of Surendran and Gobalakrishnan who have been working on the ground.

In Selayang, Selangor, MCA vice-president Donald Lim is locked in a three-cornered fight against incumbent William Leong (PKR) and Mohd Hazizi Abdul Rahman (Berjasa). Malay voters in the constituency have shot up from 35,800 to 47,724 since 2008, an increase of about 12,000. This makes them the likely kingmakers.

The emergence of Independent candidates may create a spoiler effect among the Malay voters to the advantage of Lim. Another factor to be considered is whether the Malay voters in the semi-urban constituency have been convinced by the messages of change frequently chanted by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

In another Selangor constituency of Pandan, MCA’s Gary Lim should thank the influential incumbent Ong Tee Keat for not joining in the three-way fight involving PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli and Independent Tan Yew Ling.

Ong is represented by Tan, his personal assistant. Ong’s non-involvement in the race has prevented Lim from being dealt a fatal blow from the start. This is because a recent poll in the constituency showed that Ong has 66.7% of the voter support.

However, though Lim could still put up a credible fight against his opponents, both he and Tan might end up vying for the BN votes while their common enemy Rafizi pockets the remaining.

Elsewhere, MCA’s first-timer Tan Kok Eng is involved a four-cornered tie in the Kuala Lumpur constituency of Bandar Tun Razak with PKR treasurer-general Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, Moktar Salahudin (Independent) and Mohd Sukeri Abdul Samat (Independent).

Moktar is an Umno branch chairman while Sukeri is the former special assistant to Tan Chai Ho, Kok Eng’s father who held the seat before. The split of Malay votes between BN component parties makes Kok Eng’s foray a tough battle.

MCA is fighting for survival, and whether the Independent candidates are a boon or curse for them could only be known on May 5. Below are the MCA seats which involved multi-cornered fights:

Alor Setar: Chor Chee Heung (MCA), Abdul Fisol Mohd Isa (Berjasa), Gooi Hsiao Leung (PKR), Jawahar Raja Abdul Wahid (Bersama).

Padang Serai: Heng Seai Kie (MCA), N Surendran (PKR), N Gobalakrishnan (Independent), Hamidi Abu Hassan (Berjasa), Othman Wawi (Independent).

Bagan: David Chua (MCA), Lim Guan Eng (DAP), Lim Kim Chu (PCM)

Ipoh Barat: Cheng Wei Yee (MCA), Kalwant Singh (Independent), M Kulasegaran (DAP)

Selayang: Donald Lim (MCA), Mohd Hazizi Abdul Rahman (Berjasa), William Leong (PKR)

Pandan: Gary Lim (MCA), Tan Yew Ling (Independent), Rafizi Ramli (PKR)

Kelana Jaya: Loh Seng Kok (MCA), Wong Chen (PKR), Ton Sin Wah (independent)

PJ Selatan: Sheah Kok Fah (MCA), Ibrahim Khatib (Independent), Hee Loy Sian (PKR)

Bandar Tun Razak: Tan Kok Eng (MCA), Moktar Salahudin (Independent), Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (PKR), Mohd Sukeri Abdul Samat (Independent).

Seremban: Yeow Chai Thiam (MCA), Abdul Halim Abdullah (Berjasa), John Fernandez (Independent), Anthony Loke (DAP), Bujang Abu (independent)

Kulai: Tay Chin Hein (MCA), Teo Nie Ching (DAP), K Surendiran (Independent)