‘Check and balance? We wouldn't trust MCA to dig a ditch’

BALAKONG POLLS | The main thrust of MCA’s campaign for the Balakong by-election has been to provide check and balance to the Pakatan Harapan-led Selangor government.

MCA candidate Tan Chee Teong has even made the catchphrase “check and balance” his official tagline  – appealing to voters to accord an “underdog” like him a chance in the state assembly to pressure Harapan to fulfil its election manifesto and to prevent it from being corrupt.

As the first week of campaigning draws to a close, a straw poll suggests that Balakong voters – even MCA members among them – remain unconvinced of the party’s ability to play this role.

For 66-year-old tong sui (Chinese dessert) vendor and longtime party member Chong Kwi Weng (photo), MCA needs to leave BN and prove it is able to stand on its own before it tries to hold others accountable.  

“As a party member, we have given them (MCA) a chance to say something so many times. Sixty years they were in government, and they did not do anything.

“Gerakan was daring enough to leave BN. We, MCA, have been dragged by our noses, why are we still staying in BN? Tak malu (No shame)?

"And MCA has not dared to condemn (former prime minister) Najib Abdul Razak or 1MDB.

"We should do it and do so daringly. Don’t keep talking about what Harapan could not achieve in 100 days,” Chan told Malaysiakini when met at his stall in Taming Jaya, Balakong.

Daring to leave

Similarly, carpenter Tong Wah Sai did not believe MCA was up to the task, and suggested that it focus on reforming itself and its battered image.

“I think they can’t check and balance the state government. They might want to, but they won’t be able to.

“They need to reform, they need to change their logo because it can’t be used anymore. And they can’t be for just one race, they need to open up to all three races. Like what DAP does.

“And they need to leave BN,” he said.

As for former Balakong Wanita MCA member Tay Bee Gaut (photo), she also believed the party had much reforming to do if it wanted to regain credibility in the eyes of the people.

An enthusiastic party member for over years, she said she left the party after the 2008 general election because she lost faith in its ability to help make the people's lives better.

“They can’t check and balance anyone if they don’t reform and show that they can help the people again,” said the 58-year-old when met at her restaurant, also in Taming Jaya.

'Too late, MCA'

Though a Chinese-majority seat, Balakong comprises 30 percent Malay voters, many of whom live in Bandar Tun Hussein Onn.

Met in the area, retired government servant Rosli Samsuri (photo) highlighted a trust deficit voters had for MCA.

“The previous government was not honest, and MCA has come out to say something like this too late. People don’t trust them anymore.

“Nak buat parit pun orang tak percaya (People don’t even trust them to dig a ditch)!” he exclaimed.  

The former Public Works Department officer said he was more willing to give a fair chance to the three-month-old Harapan government, which he said the people were monitoring closely.

“If they goyang (are shaky), our support for them will also goyang (be shaky),” he added.

Like Rosli, many Balakong voters Malaysiakini spoke to said they remained supportive of having the federal and state government under Harapan’s helm.

No reason for change

Small-time businesswoman Nur Siti Baizura Badrul (right in photo) said she saw no reason to shift her support, even if it would leave the power dynamic of the Selangor government unaltered should MCA win the seat.

“I am satisfied with the state government’s welfare programmes, like free buses and the allocations for single mothers. My mother is a single mom and many of my friends are as well.

“My daughter benefitted from Warisan Anak Selangor fund (Tawas) and I find the Peduli Sihat scheme quite good.

"So it’s a no for MCA,” she said.

Similarly, 26-year-old restaurant owner Nazrin Syed Mohd Bukhari said the constituency had flourished in recent years, and thanked the late Balakong assemblyperson Eddie Ng for it.

“Everything is going smoothly here, why should we change?

“I just hope the upcoming DAP candidate does an even better job than Ng,” he added.

In GE14, Balakong voted overwhelmingly for Harapan, and gave Ng a 35,538 majority in a three-cornered fight.

MCA had garnered fewer votes in the Chinese-majority seat than PAS, polling 5,874 to the Islamist party’s 6,230.

The Sept 8 by-election was called following Ng’s death in a car accident, and will see a straight fight between MCA’s Tan and DAP’s Wong Siew Ki.