GE15: four MCA top guns fail to make cut as candidates

KUALA LUMPUR – Four of MCA’s top leaders are set to miss out on the upcoming general election, going by Barisan Nasional’s (BN) announcement yesterday.

Arguably the biggest name left out is party vice-president Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker, who had previously expressed interest in contesting the Kuantan parliamentary seat, a constituency which was also being eyed by fellow BN component Umno.

In announcing the names of BN candidates last night, coalition chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the seat in Pahang will be contested by state Umno communication secretary Datuk Seri Ab Hamid Mohd Nazahar.

Another of MCA’s vice-presidents, Datuk Yew Teong Look, who was tipped to vie in the Batu constituency, was also overlooked as a candidate.

The seat was instead given to MIC’s A. Kohilan Pillay.

The decision involving these two seats is said to not sit well among certain segments within MCA.

Two other top MCA leaders, vice-president Datuk Tan Teik Cheng and women chief Datuk Heng Seai Kie, were similarly missing from the candidates list, although The Vibes understands that both of them are not keen in contesting.

The only two current incumbents, party president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong and Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng, will be defending their Ayer Hitam and Tanjong Piai seats respectively.

MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon is set to contest in the Raub federal seat, where he will go against DAP’s Chow Yu Hui, who is also the incumbent Tras assemblyman.

MCA deputy president Datuk Mah Hang Soon, meanwhile, will take on the Tanjong Malim federal seat, while vice-president Datuk Lim Ban Hong and Youth chief Nicole Wong Siaw Ting will respectively contest Tangga Batu and Tebrau.

Former party president Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai was also confirmed as the candidate for Bentong, the seat which he lost to DAP in the 2018 general election.

Besides that, the Indera Mahkota parliamentary seat – traditionally contested by BN’s lynchpin Umno – is set to be contested by MCA’s Quek Tai Seong, the political secretary to Wee (Ka Siong).

Another prominent name, Datuk Chua Tee Yong, who is the son of former MCA president Datuk Chua Soi Lek, will look to recapture Labis, the seat which he won in 2008 and 2013 before losing it to DAP in the last election.

In total, MCA will contest 43 federal seats, according to the list of candidates announced by Zahid. – The Vibes, November 2, 2022