JOHOR POLLS | MCA isn't keeping secrets about the epicentre of its battle for revival, having shifted its 73rd-anniversary celebration today to Yong Peng, Johor.
Yong Peng, one of two state seats within the parliamentary constituency of Ayer Hitam, is sentimental for MCA as it provided the party with a lifeline in the face of annihilation in the 2018 general election.
MCA, from its glory days with 31 MPs in 2004, faced a total wipeout in 2018, but MCA president Wee Ka Siong managed to fend off DAP's challenge in Ayer Hitam, making him the party’s sole MP left after the general election.
"At the time, in this blessed land of Yong Peng, I managed to win by 303 votes," Wee (above, right) said.
Since then, MCA has gained another parliamentary seat in Tanjung Piai during a by-election in 2019.
However, at the state level in Johor, the party was wiped out.
Now, Wee said MCA once again faces a "life or death" battle and he is banking on voters who saved him in the last general election to help spark MCA's revival in the Johor state polls.
"If we can make a breakthrough in Johor, then it can serve as a catalyst for a bigger victory in the 15th general election," he told some 500 party supporters at the anniversary luncheon.
The hall was 50 percent filled, in accordance with Covid-19 standard operating procedures.
In Yong Peng, Wee has despatched his most trusted lieutenant Ling Tian Soon, who is also the MCA national organising secretary.
Wee made clear that he expects Ling, who is also the Johor MCA Youth chief, to carry the party in the state polls.
"In this state election, among our 15 candidates, the most senior is the candidate from Yong Peng as he is also the MCA national organising secretary," he said.
Battle in Yong Peng
Ling will face off with Alan Tee Boon Tsong, who is the political secretary of Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong.
In the last general election, DAP won Yong Peng with a 5,089-vote majority although it lost at the Parliament level as neighbouring Semarang voted strongly for Wee.
However, the DAP incumbent Chew Peck Choo was retiring and Tee was moved from the relatively safe seat of Senai to fill in for Chew.
Wee said this was the Chinese party's opportunity to regain a presence in the Johor assembly after being wiped out in the last general election.
"This battle is crucial as there has not been an MCA representative in the Johor government.
"We have to remedy this so that the state government will reflect the diversity of Johor society and ensure no ethnic group is left out of mainstream development," he said.
During the event, Wee also announced Tebrau MCA chief Ng Yew Aik as the candidate for Puteri Wangsa.
MCA yesterday delayed the announcement for the seat as it was a last-minute swap with Umno.
Of the 15 MCA candidates, 10 are new faces. Half are aged under 40 with the youngest aged 27 and the oldest at 60.
Shots fired
Wee also trained his guns against Pakatan Harapan at the event, accusing the coalition of failing to fulfil its promises while in the government.
This includes recognising the Unified Examination Certificate and abolishing highway tolls.
He also criticised former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for resigning as the Harapan prime minister, saying this started political instability in the country.
The candidates will undergo official nomination with the Election Commission tomorrow.
Campaigning will kick off immediately after the nomination. Johoreans will vote on March 12.
- Mkini
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