Johor polls: MCA wants to contest Pekan Nanas seat

Tanjung Piai MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng said he is positive about MCA’s chances of contesting the seat although Barisan Nasional has yet to confirm its list of candidates and seat allocation.

JOHOR BARU: MCA hopes to continue contesting the Pekan Nanas seat in the upcoming Johor election, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng.

The Tanjung Piai MP said he was positive about MCA’s chances of contesting the seat although Barisan Nasional has yet to confirm its list of candidates and seat allocation.

He recalled that at MCA’s 68th annual general meeting on Dec 19, 2021, Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party would be given more seats to contest in the next general election on top of its traditional seats, which was a good sign for the party.

“In addition to Pekan Nanas, we must also defend the Kukup seat to produce good results, as both are under my parliamentary constituency,” he said when chairing a special meeting of the Tanjung Piai MCA division on election preparations.

The Tanjung Piai MCA division chief’s statement came after Pontian MP and Umno secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Maslan said on Jan 28 that he would not be contesting a state seat in the upcoming polls.

Ahmad was asked by reporters as there had been talk that he would contest either the Pulai Sebatang or Pekan Nanas seats, where both were contested by MCA in the 14th General Election (GE14).

In GE14, DAP’s Yeo Tung Siong secured a 1,308 majority in Pekan Nanas with 11,856 votes over MCA’s Tan Eng Meng, who garnered 10,548 votes.

Wee, who is also the Deputy Plantation Industries And Commodities Minister, added that the upcoming snap polls could see multiple-cornered fights in each seat.

It would also be a tough one as voters aged 18 years old and above would also be able to cast their votes, he said.

“No matter what, MCA has always been serving the people, not just when the election is near.

“We have to stick to our motto of putting the people and their needs first and we cannot take for granted that they will keep supporting us.

“All members should stay united and fight side by side since the election bell has been rung,” he reminded.