No need to entertain MCA, PH told as by-election looms

 

DAP’s Pang Sock Tao speaks to Orang Asli villagers in Kampung Tun Abdul Razak, Hulu Selangor, on April 29, ahead of the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election on May 11. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan (PH) needs to focus on gaining support from voters in Kuala Kubu Baharu instead of MCA’s reluctance to assist the unity government’s candidate in campaigning, say analysts.

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said that the ongoing verbal clashes between MCA and PH leaders might only help Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Khairul Azhari Saut seize the seat in the May 11 by-election.

“PH, especially DAP, doesn’t need to pay much attention to MCA as the party has struggled to make an impact, whether in Kuala Kubu Baharu or at the national level,” he told FMT.

“If not, PN will use this to its advantage. It’s hard to get any positive impact from this.”

Azmi was commenting on the spat between PH leaders and their MCA counterparts which began after the Barisan Nasional component refused to campaign for PH’s Kuala Kubu Baharu candidate, Pang Sock Tao of DAP.

In the latest skirmish last Saturday, PKR Youth chief Adam Adli said that parties in the unity government should unite for the by-election campaign period.

He also said that “a party should not campaign to disrupt or tarnish the name of the candidate or parties involved”.

In response, MCA Youth information chief Neow Choo Seong said there were more pressing issues at hand, and that it would be better for those involved to focus on the campaign rather than MCA’s position.

Neow also claimed that there was a sense of anger among MCA members who felt attacked by DAP leaders for various reasons.

Analyst Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia agreed that DAP shouldn’t be swayed by MCA’s narrative.

She said Chinese voters and DAP supporters were likely to vote for Pang even with MCA’s boycott as the party enjoys minimal support in the constituency.

However, she also said that it would be difficult for MCA and DAP to reconcile due to the long-standing conflict between them.

“I think the impact (of MCA refusing to campaign) will be small because MCA only has a few voters. Most of the voters there are DAP supporters, and they will vote for Pang,” she said.

MCA has a total of two MPs and seven state assembly members.

The Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election will see a four-way fight featuring Pang, Khairul, Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s Hafizah Zainuddin and independent candidate Nyau Ke Xin.

The seat fell vacant following the death of three-term DAP assemblyman Lee Kee Hiong on March 21 from cancer.

Polling day has been set for May 11, with early voting on May 7. - FMT