YONG PENG: MCA will approach the Johor state election with a calm mindset regardless of whether its candidates face straight fights or multi-cornered contests, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said.
The party president acknowledged that the next two weeks of campaigning would not be easy, warning candidates to expect rumours and unexpected campaign tactics.
"Whether it is a straight fight or a multi-cornered contest, we will face this election calmly. It will not be an easy battle.
"There will be many changes over the next two weeks. Rumours and unexpected tactics will emerge, so our candidates must work hard to win every single vote," he said when met after accompanying MCA Youth chief Ling Tian Soon at the nomination centre for the Yong Peng state seat on Saturday (June 27).
Dr Wee said he was encouraged by the turnout of local supporters from various ethnic communities who came voluntarily to back Ling.
"We did not rely on outside supporters. Those who came today are local Malays, Chinese and Indians whom I know well.
"They came on their own to show their support for Tian Soon, and that is very meaningful."
He said Ling's grassroots service over the past four years had earned him support across communities, describing him as a hardworking assemblyman who regularly attended programmes in the Malay, Chinese and Indian communities.
Dr Wee, who is also Ayer Hitam MP, said it was only natural for him to campaign in Yong Peng, a constituency he knows well.
"This is my place. I know the people here very well. As MCA president, it is only right that I come to support our Youth chief," he said.
He also described Ling as one of MCA's key leaders in Johor and expressed hope that he would retain the seat with an even stronger mandate.
Earlier, Ling said he was confident of his record after serving the constituency for more than four years.
He said his priority had been improving infrastructure in Yong Peng, having secured more than RM52mil for development projects in the constituency.
"Over the past four years, my focus has been on catching up on infrastructure development because Yong Peng had lost out on development opportunities over two terms.
"This week, I will focus on telling the people what we have done, what problems we have solved and what we have built over the past four years before delving on our future plans," he said.
Ling said he would unveil his five-year development plan for Yong Peng on July 4.
He also pledged to ensure Yong Peng benefits from the Johor government's plans to drive economic growth, create higher-income jobs and address housing issues.
"I have confidence in the service I have provided over the past four years and in the support and encouragement I have received from the people of Yong Peng.
"I hope they will give me another term so that together we can bring even more change and create the next chapter for Yong Peng," he said.
Ling will face DAP's Yong Hui Yi in the contest for the Yong Peng state seat in the upcoming Johor state election.
In the 2022 Johor state election, Ling defeated DAP's Alan Tee Boon Tsong with a 2,741-vote majority to wrest the seat from Pakatan Harapan.
In the 2018 election, Ling had lost the seat to DAP's Chew Peck Choo by a 5,089-vote majority.
