MALACCA POLLS | MCA leaders have defended the party’s Kelebang candidate Lim Ban Hong from calls to resign as the deputy international trade and industry minister.
Yesterday, PKR treasurer-general Lee Chean Chung told a press conference that Lim ought to step down to focus on the Malacca election and to prevent abusing government resources when campaigning.
In response, MCA spokesperson Mike Chong said there was nothing wrong with the candidature.
He accused Lee of trying to “undermine” Lim.
“Lee’s comment that Lim has to resign from his portfolio as deputy minister is purely an underhanded attempt to undermine the credibility of a political opponent. It is baseless and unfounded.
“Lim (underwent) the nomination process today, obtaining his status as a candidate after passing the Election Commission’s (EC) inspection and approval in compliance (with) the law.
“I would like to advise Lee to study the relevant legislation before making such ill-informed remarks in public,” he said in a statement.
No laws broken
MCA Youth spokesperson Ryan Ho similarly stressed that the EC had accepted Lim’s nomination.
Ho, who works as a lawyer, cited the Federal Constitution to contend that Lim did not contravene any laws.
“In Article 13 (1) (c) of the Malacca state constitution, holding an office of profit does indeed disqualify a person from standing as a candidate in the Malacca state legislature. This I do not deny.
“However, Article 160 (2) of the Federal Constitution interprets an 'office of profit' to comprise of only a fixed number of offices - none of which Lim holds.
“It also includes 'any whole time office in any of the public services' but under Article 132(3) of the Federal Constitution, public service does not include 'any member of the administration in the federation or a state’,” he said in a separate statement.
Ho pointed out that Jeffrey Kitingan had contested in last year’s Sabah state election while he was still the tourism, arts and culture deputy minister.
Kitingan resigned from his federal position after he won the Tambunan state seat and was appointed deputy chief minister II.
“If Lee has an issue with that (Lim’s candidature), he should bring it up to the EC,” Ho added.
Three-way fight in Kelebang
Kelebang will see a three-cornered fight between Lim (BN-MCA), incumbent Gue Teck (Harapan-PKR) and Bakri Jamaluddin (PN-PAS).
The 12-day campaigning period began yesterday and will end the night before the Nov 20 polling day.
These pandemic polls will see a new normal with strict standard operating procedures, including a ban on the usual campaigning methods like house visits, walkabouts and ceramah. - Mkini
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