Barisan focusing on winnable seats, says Wee

KAJANG: Barisan Nasional component parties, including the MCA, have entered “top gear” in finalising their candidate list, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The MCA president said matters will be clearer in the coming week as the parties make the best attempt to field their preferred candidates in the allocated constituencies.

He said Barisan was focusing on the winnable seats.

“The focus is also on how all component parties should collaborate and what manifesto we can offer to the voters,” he said.

Dr Wee said it was not the norm for Barisan to reveal the process of seat negotiation.

“While potential candidates will feel they are winnable, a final decision will still have to be made.

“Barisan will follow the proper procedures and announce its candidates before Nomination Day,” he told reporters after opening the third Symposium on Railway Infrastructure and Engineering (SRIE 2022) at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman’s Sungai Long campus here.

The Transport Minister and Ayer Hitam MP said the MCA top leadership was working on finalising the party’s candidates, adding that all state liaison committees had forwarded their recommendations.

“We will wait for the Election Commission’s announcement on the nomination and polling dates. We also need to obtain the appointment letters from Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi,” he added.

He urged all to be patient and to give time for due diligence to take place before the list is finalised.

“I know everyone is anxious to know who will be fielded. I am, too. But we need to deliberate further and filter every candidate with background checks, such as on insolvency. This is very important,” he pointed out.

Asked about seats previously contested by Gerakan, Dr Wee said these would be amicably distributed within Barisan.

“Fewer parties contesting would result in more seats. Barisan will certainly look into this and settle it properly,” he said.

Gerakan left Barisan after the coalition lost the 2018 general election to later join Perikatan Nasional.

He said it would not be surprising for some Pakatan Harapan-ruled states to make a “U-turn” and decide to hold their state elections simultaneously with the general election.

“Pakatan has a track record of going back on its word when they were the government,” he added.