MCA: No sitting out this time


Auspicious looks: Dr Wee, and other attendees, posing for a picture at the MCA Chinese New Year celebration in Seremban.

SEREMBAN: MCA, which sat out of six state elections held in 2022, will be making a comeback in the Sabah election and in ensuing polls, says its president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

He urged party members to work harder and be prepared for any eventuality.

“The objective of every party is to contest in every election. That is important for its survival.

“I just want to say that we should work hard. Do not talk about how we will participate or get to this; we know what to do,” he told reporters at the state-level MCA Chinese New Year celebration on Wednesday night.

Dr Wee was referring to the speech by MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon, who was also present at the dinner, which stated that the party will be contesting all state and general elections from now on.

MCA, a component of Barisan Nasional, had sat out of the Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Penang elections, which were held on Aug 12, 2023.

However, it had helped campaign for the coalition’s candidates in the state elections.

Dr Wee said MCA and its Barisan component members have always had a cordial and good working relationship.

“Whenever there is a problem, we discuss and sort it out. That is the spirit of brotherhood in Barisan,” he said, adding that all MCA members, including potential candidates, should get ready to face any polls.

Separately, Dr Wee said MCA will continue to play a check and balance role to the government and speak for the people.

“The government has been doing many things right including coming up with good policies and we have been supportive of these.

“On the contrary, if a policy has adverse effects on the people, then we are duty bound to make our opinion heard,” he said.

Citing an example, he said MCA had been vocal on issues such as the move by the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to sell its Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd (MAHB) shares at a lower price and repurchasing them at a premium in a short period.

On Wednesday, Dr Wee said records showed that EPF’s equity holdings in MAHB in November 2022 were 15.67%, or 259,917,492 shares.

He said EPF gradually sold 163,363,080 shares at prices between RM6.74 and RM7.70 per unit until its ownership in MAHB was reduced to 5.97% by December 2023.

Just months later, under a general offer, he said EPF repurchased the disposed shares at about RM11, paying a premium of between RM539mil and RM696mil.

“You do not sell at the lowest price and then buy back at the highest price.

“I am not blaming others but what I am saying is that if you are the expert, you should do the right thing,” he said, adding that EPF’s money belonged to the rakyat and those handling it need to be accountable.

The MCA president added that the party had also voiced its opposition to categorising couples earning RM13,295 as “ultra rich”, expanding the SST to include other services, and the proposed electricity tariff hike and e-invoicing for SMEs.

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