MELAKA: There is no question of MCA pulling out of the Melaka state election, says Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said a meeting between Barisan and MCA leaders had produced positive results.
Ahmad Zahid said he had met MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, the Barisan secretary-general and Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, but left it to Ab Rauf to announce the outcome.
"The meeting with the MCA president, the Barisan Nasional secretary-general and the Melaka Chief Minister has shown positive results.
"I cannot announce it. I have given the (caretaker) Melaka Chief Minister the mandate to make the announcement. Please direct your follow-up questions to him," he told reporters at an open day for students at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) on Tuesday (Oct 27).
Asked about MCA withdrawing from the polls, he said: "No, no, it does not arise."
He said the talks were positive and there was no quarrel between the parties.
"Try asking Datuk Seri (Ab) Rauf. It is positive. There is no fighting," he said.
Asked whether Barisan would reassess its candidates ahead of nomination day on Oct 31 following objections to its line-up, Ahmad Zahid said the coalition would resolve the matter internally.
He said such problems arose in any by-election or state election, let alone a general election.
"These problems do not happen only to Barisan Nasional but also to other coalition parties.
"This is common, and nothing is impossible for us in finding the best solution. I do not see it heading in that direction," he said.
MCA leaders, including Dr Wee, deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon and representatives from six MCA divisions in Melaka, left the Barisan candidate announcement at the Melaka International Trade Centre on Saturday (Oct 24), saying the seat allocation had been decided without the party's agreement.
Asked then whether MCA would withdraw from the contest, Dr Wee said the party had yet to decide and would assess developments over the following days.
MCA was allocated two of the 21 seats Barisan is contesting, compared with seven in the 2021 state election.
PAS and its allies will contest the remaining seven seats, with polling set for Nov 14 and early voting on Nov 10.
