Ti rubbishes claim MCA wants BN to go solo over seat fears

 The former MCA vice-president also accuses DAP's Liew Chin Tong of fearmongering.

Former MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker (left) said it was odd for DAP’s strategic director Liew Chin Tong to make such a claim.

PETALING JAYA:

Former MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker has rubbished allegations that the party is pushing for Barisan Nasional to go solo at the next nationwide polls out of fear it would only be allotted two seats.

Ti said his party’s push for BN to contest the 16th general election (GE16) on its own was based on its faith in the coalition’s strength.

He then accused DAP’s Liew Chin Tong, who made the claim, of “fearmongering”, adding he found it odd that Liew had made such allegations.

“Why is DAP wading into BN’s affairs? Unless of course it is DAP which is afraid of BN going solo,” he told FMT.

Yesterday, Liew, DAP’s strategic director, claimed the prospect of being allotted only two seats did not sit well with MCA leaders, supposedly prompting them to push for BN to go solo.

MCA currently holds two parliamentary seats — Ayer Hitam and Tanjung Piai.

Ti went on to say that MCA had pushed for BN to go solo, even before the Johor state assembly was dissolved to pave the way for a state election.

In early May, MCA president Wee Ka Siong said going solo in the next general election would be the right move for the coalition.

Wee said this in response to BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s remarks that the coalition was “almost certain” of going solo in GE16.

Ti also said MCA wanted BN to go solo in GE16 as the party had in December, officially rejected any form of cooperation with DAP in GE16.

“So MCA’s push for BN to go solo is a matter of principle.” - FMT