KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional should contest the upcoming Melaka and Johor state elections under its own banner, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
Speaking at MCA’s 77th anniversary celebration at Wisma MCA here, Dr Wee said the party expected the Melaka state election to be held this year, followed by Johor in early 2027.
“Today, I can state clearly that MCA’s position is that Barisan Nasional should contest the Melaka and Johor state elections under its own banner, independently,” he said in his keynote address on Saturday (March 7).
Dr Wee noted that Barisan won both Melaka and Johor in the previous elections, adding that Barisan currently governs Johor while Melaka operates under a unity government model.
“In the coming state elections, it is only reasonable and justifiable for Barisan Nasional to continue contesting under its own banner and seek a mandate from voters to govern independently,” he said.
He also instructed the state liaison committees in Melaka and Johor to immediately activate their election machinery and submit, within a month, a proposed candidate list, campaign committee line-up and a comprehensive campaign strategy paper to party headquarters.
The strategy, he said, must cover key themes such as publicity, new media, training, polling, house visits, as well as preparations for polling and counting agents.
Dr Wee set two targets - MCA must win more state seats than in the previous election, and Barisan must win both state elections under its own banner.
Citing Johor as an example, he said Barisan-led states had shown greater political stability than states governed by other parties, and were more consistent in upholding a governance approach rooted in moderation, inclusiveness and diversity.
On Barisan’s positioning for the next general election, Dr Wee said the coalition should aim to rebuild and face the polls “in its best form”, adding that Barisan must not “shrink back” or “concede defeat prematurely”.
While acknowledging that political alignments could shift after elections to maintain stability, he cautioned against signalling weakness before polling day.
He said that even if Barisan needed to work with other parties to form the government after an election, its bargaining power would depend on the number of seats it wins, and not on “how low a posture” it adopts.
This, he said, also meant Barisan should not indicate before elections that it is prepared to give up its traditional seats.
Dr Wee also reaffirmed that MCA would contest in the next general election and called on party leaders and members at all levels to set aside internal disputes and prioritise candidate selection and groundwork.
Among those present at the celebration were party deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon, vice-presidents Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng, Datuk Lim Ban Hong, Datuk Lawrence Low and Datuk Tan Teik Cheng, Wanita MCA chief Datuk Wong You Fong, MCA Youth chief Ling Tian Soon and fellow leaders.
Also present were party veterans and former leaders including Tan Sri Tan Koon Swan, Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai, Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek and Tan Sri Wong Foon Meng, as well as Datuk Yap Pian Hon, Tan Sri Fong Chan Onn, Tan Sri Chor Chee Heung, Datuk Seri Hou Kok Chung, Datuk Seri Yew Teong Look, Datuk Seri Kee Yong Wee, Tan Sri Kuan Peng Soon, Datuk Hon Choon Kim and Datin Paduka Tan Siok Choo.
