Selangor MCA Youth chief Tan Jie Sen has hit out at BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for announcing that BN would not seek to contest the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election in Selangor without consulting other component parties.
According to Oriental Daily, Tan said this demonstrates Zahid’s arrogance and lack of respect towards his coalition partners.
Therefore, he proposed that MCA contest independently in Kuala Kubu Baharu, to win the by-election and assume the role of “opposition in Selangor”.
“In light of the recent inaction by the Madani government on various issues, it is evident that a stronger opposition is needed to advocate for the Chinese community, both at the federal and state levels,” he said in a statement.
He pointed to several incidents that purportedly showed DAP elected representatives’ failure to speak up for the interests of Chinese Malaysians.
These issues include the bak kut teh controversy, the KK Mart fiasco, the calls to abolish the vernacular schools, and a recent incident involving the ban on joss paper burners in residential areas in Klang.
“While MCA is a part of the current Madani government, we do not hold any positions within the Selangor government.
“Why should MCA not follow in the footsteps of Sarawak DAP and play the role of the ‘opposition’ within the state government?” he asked.
Tan also hoped MCA’s central leadership would actively participate and contest in any upcoming by-elections or state elections, to secure more parliamentary and state seats to represent Chinese Malaysians.
When contacted, Selangor MCA chief Laurence Low said he would inform the media when MCA decides on the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
DAP’s incumbent Kuala Kubu Baharu assemblyperson Lee Kee Hiong passed away on March 21, paving the way for a by-election.
The KKB seat
On March 22, Zahid announced that BN would not seek to contest the by-election and would instead support the candidate fielded by the coalition government.
Lee was first elected as Kuala Kubu Baharu assemblyperson in 2013. She then defended the seat during elections in 2018 and 2023.
She contested against candidates from BN’s MCA during the 2013 and 2018 elections, but BN did not contest in the 2023 Selangor state election. This is because it had forged a working relationship with Pakatan Harapan after the 2022 general election.
Kuala Kubu Baharu was once a stronghold of BN and MCA. However, MCA’s last victory in the seat was 16 years ago during the 2008 general election.
According to the current arrangement between the unity government’s component parties, only the winning party will be fielded to defend its seats in future elections.
With MCA holding only two parliamentary and seven state seats, its chances of contesting in most of its traditional seats in the next election are slim.
The MCA leadership had previously stated that the Chinese-based party would participate in the upcoming general election.
During the party’s annual assembly last October, MCA president Wee Ka Siong also stated that MCA is prepared to operate on its own should BN component parties seek new political alliances to reverse their fortunes. - Mkini
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