YONG PENG: MCA has begun early preparations for the Melaka state election while awaiting the Election Commission's (EC) announcement on key election dates, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA president said the party's preparations for the upcoming election would be guided by the outcome of the EC's special meeting on Oct 7.
"The EC has just announced that the meeting to set the key dates for the election will be held on Oct 7, so any preparations must be based on the announcement.
"While gearing towards Oct 7 and waiting for the announcement to be made, we still have to carry out some preliminary preparations.
"As far as MCA is concerned, we are prepared. The rest is still a long process," he told the press after officiating the Yong Peng Mid-Autumn Festival at the Yong Peng Che Ann Khor Moral Uplifting Association building here on Friday (Sept 25) night.
Dr Wee said this when asked about MCA's preparations for the upcoming Melaka state election.
Asked whether negotiations on seat allocations had begun, he said it was still too early.
"The EC's meeting is in about two weeks, and in politics, even one day is too long," he said.
Earlier, the EC announced that a special meeting would be held on Oct 7 to decide key dates for the 16th Melaka state election.
The Melaka state assembly was dissolved on Wednesday (Sept 23), paving the way for the state election.
In the 2021 state election, Barisan Nasional won 21 of the 28 seats, comprising Umno (18), MCA (two) and MIC (one).
Pakatan Harapan secured five seats through DAP (four) and Amanah (one), while Perikatan Nasional won the remaining two seats through Bersatu.
Meanwhile, Dr Wee said the Mid-Autumn Festival had drawn thousands of people, including families from the local community.
"We can see many families here with their children. At least they can tell their children about the significance of the festival.
"The venue has also been beautifully decorated and perhaps this can become another destination for domestic tourism," he said.
