Heng not contesting in GE15, will lead election machinery

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Heng Seai Kie is not contesting in the general election.

Instead, she will focus her efforts to help MCA candidates, especially the party’s Wanita candidates.

The Wanita MCA chief said she is spearheading the party’s election machinery.

“I am not contesting in the general election. I will be leading the party’s election machinery nationwide, especially in areas where there are Wanita candidates,” she said after launching Wanita MCA’s official website here yesterday.

Heng, 60, was responding to a question about whether she will be contesting as a candidate.

She noted that other MCA leaders who are not contesting in the polls would also be helping out in the party’s campaigns.

Heng said the MCA candidates will push for equal rights for Malaysian women who give birth overseas so that their babies will be granted Malaysian citizenship.

“This is also the stand taken during the Barisan Nasional Wanita convention last month, where there should be equal rights given to Malaysian fathers and mothers whose children were born overseas,” she added.

Heng was appointed a Dewan Negara senator from 2006 to 2009.

She was the deputy information, communications and culture minister from 2009 to 2010, and deputy women, family and community development minister from 2010 to 2012.

She was an adviser to the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry from 2012 to 2013.

She contested the Gopeng parliamentary seat in Perak in GE14 in 2018 and lost to Dr Lee Boon Chye of PKR.

In the 2013 general election, she contested the Padang Serai parliamentary seat in Kedah and lost to Surendra Nagarajan of PKR.

It was reported on Sunday that the Gopeng seat is expected to see a young and vibrant face from MCA in this general election.

Gopeng MCA vice-chairman Cally Ting has been tipped to be the most likely candidate for Barisan.

Separately, Felda chairman Tan Sri Idris Jusoh, 67, announced that he will not be contesting in the general election.

The three-term Besut MP said he wants to give way to younger candidates following Umno’s wish to promote younger leaders in the party.

“It’s time to give way to others. With a younger line-up in Umno, I’m sure that Umno’s future will be brighter, with energetic members and well-liked by the voters,” he said on Facebook.