Take a stand in Balakong, MCA candidate tells PH opponent

Tan Chee Teong says there is no point for Pakatan Harapan’s Wong Siew Ki to be elected as assemblyman if she has to refer everything to her party leaders.

MCA candidate for the Balakong by-election Tan Chee Teong urges his opponent to be brave enough to make promises to the voters.

PETALING JAYA: MCA’s candidate for the Balakong by-election Tan Chee Teong today called out his opponent for apparently lacking the courage to take a stand on issues.

Tan was referring to Pakatan Harapan’s candidate Wong Siew Ki’s remarks yesterday on the abolishment of the toll, where she had told a reporter to ask Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng as it was a federal issue.

Tan said her reply was reminiscent of Lim’s own reply when asked about the proposal for a third national car. Lim had told the reporter to ask Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“As a candidate, Wong should be brave enough to make promises to the voters of Balakong, and to bear responsibility for those promises.

“If Wong were to refer to her party leaders over every single matter, then what is the point of electing her as their assemblyman?

“She will only serve as a messenger for the state and federal government, and not really represent the people,” Tan said in a statement today.

Tan pointed out that PH, in its manifesto, had promised to abolish tolls, and that under the value of collective responsibility, Wong must also bear responsibility for the promise.

“Unless Wong herself is not confident in PH’s ability to fulfil its promise. If that is true, then how can she be expected to fulfil her own manifesto promises?” he asked.

Tan said if Wong still insisted on referring everything to Lim, then she might as well refer every issue to Mahathir himself.

Tan and Wong are facing off in a straight fight for the Balakong state seat, which fell vacant following the death of its state assemblyman Eddie Ng Tien Chee in an accident on July 20.

Polling has been fixed for Sept 8. -FMT