Ka Siong ridicules Chin Tong for entering Dewan through ‘back door’

MCA president Wee Ka Siong says Liew Chin Tong used to criticise MCA men for taking up government positions after being appointed senators.

PONTIAN: MCA president Wee Ka Siong today threw a “challenge” to Johor DAP chairman Liew Chin Tong to stand in a by-election to win a seat and enter the Dewan Rakyat “through the front door instead of the back door”.

He said Liew should have stood in the Tanjung Piai by-election instead of a PPBM candidate.

He said Liew, who lost to him in Ayer Hitam in the May 9 general election last year, should be given another chance to prove himself.

“Liew used to criticise MCA men for becoming senators to become deputy ministers.

“Now, I want to throw his words back at him,” Wee said at a press conference.

Liew was appointed a senator before becoming deputy defence minister.

The Ayer Hitam MP was making reference to news reports today on DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng’s statement that the party would get Liew to assist PPBM’s Tanjung Piai candidate Karmaine Sardini to woo support from the Chinese community.

Wee said he was baffled by Lim’s remarks, questioning if Lim and DAP had concerns about Karmaine’s ability to get votes from the Chinese and serve all communities if he is elected.

“They said they will not look at things from the race perspective.

“But suddenly this Chinese issue is being bought up,” he said.

Wee also criticised Lim, who is finance minister, for saying that Liew could call him directly if he needed anything for Tanjung Piai.

“Is the finance minister saying that in this democratic system, a duly elected representative cannot contact a minister?”

Liew had previously filed an election petition to challenge Wee’s Ayer Hitam victory on May 9.

The election court dismissed the petition on grounds that Liew’s petition did not comply with the election laws and failed to prove how the action of removing election billboards during the campaign period could have influenced the results.

Wee retained his seat with a 303-vote majority in a three-cornered fight with Liew and PAS candidate Mardi Marwan.

Six candidates are contesting in the Nov 16 Tanjung Piai by-election. They are Karmaine, MCA’s Wee Jeck Seng, Gerakan’s Wendy Subramaniam, Berjasa’s Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz, and also independent candidates Ang Chuan Lock and Faridah Aryani Abd Ghaffar. - FMT