KAMPAR: The Kampar parliamentary constituency has always been important to MCA with two of the party's main educational institutions situated here, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA president said with Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) here, MCA has a good track record in terms of bringing in development.
Dr Wee said former MP Datuk Lee Chee Leong had always been a good leader, and was instrumental in developing Kampar.
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"That is why the party has picked him as a candidate (for GE15), as he is close to the locals, he is from Kampar, and knows everyone.
"With the other two candidates for the state seats, Ng Wah Leng (Keranji) and Chin Woon Kheong (Malim Nawar), it is a good combo.
"I hope we can 'ubah' (change) this time, as Kampar is very important to us (MCA)," he said during his visit to hawker stalls at the town on Monday (Nov 14) with the candidates.
Dr Wee said the team was a good one to represent the people here, both for the parliamentary and state seats.
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In GE14, Lee lost to incumbent Thomas Su of DAP.
For GE15, DAP is fielding incumbent Keranji assemblyman Chong Zhemin in the parliamentary seat, while Su is contesting in the Ketari state seat in Pahang.
The other candidates contesting the Kampar parliamentary seat are Wong Oi Foon from Gerakan and Leong Cheok Lung of Warisan.
Dr Wee also said MCA has to put up a good fight in Perak since the Opposition, especially Pakatan Harapan, has made Perak an important state to win.
"We need to explain the weaknesses during their (Pakatan's) tenure in the Federal Government.
"We need to tell the people that they failed to deliver their pledges, such as abolishment of tolls and the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN).
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"All their promises and pledges (could not be implemented) and now they have repackaged it but don't dare call it their manifesto," he added.
Dr Wee advised the people to heed the proverb "once bitten, twice shy" when it came to the Opposition.
"In the last election, they made Johor their front-line state, and they are (doing this) in Perak now.
"But Perak is different from other states, as there are so many villages and about 162 new villages, and it is not like Klang Valley, which is an urban area (where) they have a competitive edge.
"It is not that easy here, more so with Anwar's (Pakatan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) track record, where he keeps telling the world about his convincing and comfortable majority, when in fact he does not have the support," he added.
Dr Wee said the older generation also knew Anwar's ways well from when he was the finance and education minister, but there is a need to explain to the younger generation that he can keep making promises but would eventually find excuses not to keep them.
"He is a good orator... for a different crowd, he will say different things.
"We must explain to the people that Barisan Nasional is more reliable in terms of managing the country," he added.
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