Zahid: Positive meeting between party leaders over Melaka
MELAKA: There is no question of MCA pulling out of the Melaka election, says Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).
A meeting between Barisan and MCA leaders had produced positive results, he said, revealing that he had met MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, Barisan secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and caretaker Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.
He also said he had left it to Ab Rauf to announce the outcome.
“Please direct your follow-up questions to him,” Ahmad Zahid told reporters during the open day for students at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka yesterday.
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 Rauf. It is positive. There is no fighting,” he said.
Last Saturday, MCA leaders, including Dr Wee, deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon and representatives from six MCA divisions in Melaka, staged a walkout at the Barisan candidate announcement in Melaka, 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 which Barisan is contesting, compared with seven in the 2021 state election.
PAS and its allies will contest the remaining seven seats.
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 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,” he said.
