GEORGE TOWN: Penang MCA is prepared to contest the Bukit Bendera parliamentary constituency and its four state seats in the next general election and state polls, says Datuk Tan Teik Cheng.
The MCA vice-president said the party’s Bukit Bendera division had strengthened its grassroots network and identified potential candidates with service records in the area.
He added that the Bukit Bendera parliamentary seat, as well as the Tanjong Bunga, Air Putih, Kebun Bunga, and Pulau Tikus state seats, are strategically important to the party in Penang.
“The potential candidates have served in the community for a long time and helped address local issues.
“They are not parachute candidates who appear only during elections, but local leaders who have built support on the ground,” he said when opening the Bukit Bendera MCA annual general meeting on Monday (June 22).
Traditionally, Penang MCA only contested the Air Putih state seat, while the Bukit Bendera parliamentary seat and three other state seats were previously contested by Gerakan, which left Barisan Nasional in 2018.
In the 15th General Election in 2022, Barisan was represented by Parti Cinta Malaysia’s Ritchie Huan to contest the Bukit Bendera parliamentary seat, which was won by Syerleena Abdul Rashid of Pakatan Harapan.
MCA did not contest in the 2023 Penang state polls as the decision was part of broader seat negotiations within the unity government, allowing Pakatan and Barisan to avoid overlapping candidacies.
Tan, who is also Penang MCA chairman, said grassroots leaders had continued serving the public despite a difficult political environment and deserved a fair opportunity to contest.
“Many voters are increasingly concerned about the cost of living.
“We are presenting ourselves as a pragmatic, rational and responsible political option, and we hope Barisan leaders will give more room to candidates with strong local roots,” he said.
Bukit Bendera MCA division chairman Tang Heap Seng said new faces should make good use of platforms such as TikTok, Xiaohongshu and Facebook to engage with people across all sectors of society.
He also called on party veterans to support and nurture potential candidates by providing them with resources and backing.
Bukit Bendera’s four state seats are currently held by Pakatan representatives.
