MCA Gelang Patah division chief Jason Teoh has called off all campaigning in the division following speculation that MCA will be giving up the parliamentary seat to Umno.
This followed latest developments from MCA president Chua Soi Lek’s meeting with the representatives from 26 party divisions today.
Calling a press conference this late evening, Teoh's volunteer campaign group spokesperson Zhao Yi Chang announced that the group will stop all its work pending a clearer situation.
“We have received (news from) a reliable source at 5pm today that Teoh will not be the candidate for Gelang Patah.
“We then called an emergency meeting and decided that we will stop our operations starting this moment,” he said.
According to him, the group has over 600 members and covers the task of house visits and campaigning for Teoh.
However, Zhao denied that the group comprises MCA members.
This followed latest developments from MCA president Chua Soi Lek’s meeting with the representatives from 26 party divisions today.Calling a press conference this late evening, Teoh's volunteer campaign group spokesperson Zhao Yi Chang announced that the group will stop all its work pending a clearer situation.
“We have received (news from) a reliable source at 5pm today that Teoh will not be the candidate for Gelang Patah.
“We then called an emergency meeting and decided that we will stop our operations starting this moment,” he said.
According to him, the group has over 600 members and covers the task of house visits and campaigning for Teoh.
However, Zhao denied that the group comprises MCA members.
Chua still mum
Earlier this afternoon, Chua refused to reveal whether his party would be allowed to defend the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat, a day before BN officially reveals its candidates list.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Johor MCA leaders in Johor Bahru this evening, Chua would only reveal that BN would field the most "winnable" candidate to contest the seat.
He refused to confirm if MCA would make way for Umno in Gelang Patah, stressing that BN has a power-sharing formula and urged reporters to wait for the official announcement tomorrow.
BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak is scheduled to hand out appointment letters to confirmed candidates at the Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur at 11am tomorrow.
Jason Teoh, who was initially tipped as MCA's candidate for Gelang Patah, left the meeting early. He told reporters that he had to attend another function.
Earlier this afternoon, Chua refused to reveal whether his party would be allowed to defend the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat, a day before BN officially reveals its candidates list.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Johor MCA leaders in Johor Bahru this evening, Chua would only reveal that BN would field the most "winnable" candidate to contest the seat.
He refused to confirm if MCA would make way for Umno in Gelang Patah, stressing that BN has a power-sharing formula and urged reporters to wait for the official announcement tomorrow.BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak is scheduled to hand out appointment letters to confirmed candidates at the Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur at 11am tomorrow.
Jason Teoh, who was initially tipped as MCA's candidate for Gelang Patah, left the meeting early. He told reporters that he had to attend another function.
Last Thursday, MCA confirmed that it would make way for Umno in the contest for the Kuantan parliamentary seat and two other state seats.
The state seats it is giving up are Kota Laksamana in Malacca, which will be ceded to PPP, and either Jelapang or Tronoh in Perak.
Chua: Just keep calm
Gelang Patah came under much attention after DAP decided to field Lim Kit Siang, a party veteran, to contest there.
Lim is expected to face an uphill battle in Gelang Patah, because MCA had won the seat in 2008 with a respectable 8,851 majority (15 percent of votes cast).
Moreover, Umno has responded by mooting Abdul Ghani Othman, the incumbent menteri besar of Johor, to face Lim in Gelang Patah because he is considered more "winnable" than Teoh.
Moreover, Umno has responded by mooting Abdul Ghani Othman, the incumbent menteri besar of Johor, to face Lim in Gelang Patah because he is considered more "winnable" than Teoh.
However, MCA had won the seat in 2008 with a respectable majority and grassroots are worried that if they cede it to Umno, they might not get it back.
Chua urged MCA members to keep calm and stressed that BN priority in selecting candidates is to put the people's interest first.
He added that it was normal for MCA supporters to show disgruntlement if a candidate is not selected.
Asked if the party's machinery would be affected if their desired candidate is not chosen, Chua said he would meet party grassroots if such a situation occur to pacify them.
He added that it was normal for MCA supporters to show disgruntlement if a candidate is not selected.
Asked if the party's machinery would be affected if their desired candidate is not chosen, Chua said he would meet party grassroots if such a situation occur to pacify them.
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