MCA seeking collective BN decision on Tanjung Piai candidate

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA will seek a collective decision on the candidate for the Tanjung Piai by-election with its Barisan Nasional counterparts.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic) said they would discuss the matter at a Barisan supreme council meeting in early October.

"Any decision must be a collective decision by Barisan as a whole, by the supreme council leaders.

"The most important thing is that ... all parties must work hard to ensure the seat will belong to Barisan Nasional," he said in a press conference after an MCA central committee meeting on Thursday (Sept 26).

He also said he had met Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over the matter.

When asked if MCA would fight for the seat, Dr Wee said he would do whatever necessary as party president.

Dr Wee also said MCA would decide on Oct 2 if its annual general assembly – which is slated to be held on Nov 2-3 – will carry on as planned or be postponed.

He said this is to allow for by-election preparations once the date is announced by the EC.

The seat's incumbent, Datuk Dr Md Farid Md Rafik, died in Pontian Hospital following a heart attack on Saturday (Sept 21).

The 42-year-old was the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department overseeing matters related to Unity and Social Harmony.

In GE14, Dr Md Farid of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia defeated MCA's Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng and Nordin Othman of PAS with a majority of 524 votes.

Dr Md Farid had won about 47% of the 44,948 valid votes, followed by Jeck Seng (46%) and Nordin Othman (6%).

The Tanjung Piai seat is traditionally contested by MCA but Ahmad Zahid said the party would discuss who will be fielded for the seat within Barisan.

The EC will have a special meeting on Oct 1 to discuss the date of the by-election.