MELAKA: A call for Bandar Hilir’s candidates to debate the Bandar Hilir vehicle-free zone has spilled into a wider MCA-DAP row, with DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke challenging MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong to a separate debate on their records as Transport Minister.
Barisan Nasional candidate Jasmine Lok Huey Yee, who is contesting for the first time, had invited Pakatan Harapan incumbent Leng Chau Yen to a debate after submitting her nomination papers on Saturday.
Jasmine, who is also Melaka MCA information chief, said the zone had raised concerns among businesses and residents.
She said the matter should be addressed in an open debate rather than allowing the public discussion to continue without clarification.
Her operations centre in Melaka Raya was within the zone, making the issue particularly relevant to her and MCA, she said.
Leng, who is seeking a second term, said she was prepared to accept the challenge, describing a debate as a fair and open platform for both sides to explain their positions.
Dr Wee said he had given Jasmine the go-ahead when she asked him about debating Leng, adding that it would let voters compare their positions and approaches to governance.
He said voters should look beyond campaign promises and examine whether politicians stayed consistent in their policy positions before and after coming into power.
The vehicle-free zone, introduced by the state government in August 2023, closes several roads around Bandar Hilir from 6pm on Friday to midnight on Sunday.
When the trial measure began, DAP elected representatives, including Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong, called for it to be reviewed, citing traffic congestion and losses to local businesses.
The debate call took a wider turn yesterday when Loke accused Dr Wee of singling out Leng.
Speaking in Kuala Lumpur after officiating the Federal Territories DAP convention, Loke called the move unfair and an attempt to bully Leng, accusing Dr Wee of trying to take advantage of her speech impediment.
He said her condition had not stopped her from serving Bandar Hilir residents over the past five years.
Loke also asked why MCA had not made the same challenge in other seats it is contesting, such as Klebang and Machap Jaya.
Loke, who is the current Transport Minister, then turned the challenge to his predecessor, offering to debate Dr Wee on what each had achieved while in charge of the ministry.
Dr Wee said it would be unfair to compare their achievements at the Transport Ministry due to the different circumstances under their respective tenures.
Dr Wee held the portfolio from 2020 to 2022, while Loke first held it from 2018 to 2020 before returning in December 2022.
Dr Wee also dismissed the accusation of bullying, saying he had not known of Leng’s speech impediment until Loke had mentioned it.
He also said he had never questioned Loke’s record as Transport Minister and found the challenge odd because the Bandar Hilir issue was a Melaka matter.
Bandar Hilir is seeing a three-cornered fight between Jasmine, Leng and Parti Bersama Malaysia’s Dr Mohd Nor Rashidi Ab Jalil.
Leng won the seat in the 2021 state election with a 7,778-vote majority.
Polling will take place on Nov 14, with early voting on Nov 10.
