MELAKA: Local issues and candidates’ service records are likely to carry more weight with Melaka voters than national political developments in the election, says MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon.
“Voters are more concerned about the candidates’ service records, what they have done for their constituencies and whether they are local representatives who are consistently present and accessible to the community,” he said.
He urged voters not to vote blindly or support candidates simply out of habit, but to examine what their elected representatives had achieved over the past five years and whether they had fulfilled their election manifesto promises before deciding who deserved their support.
“Look at their track records. What did they promise in their manifestos five years ago, and how many of those promises have they fulfilled?” he said in an interview.
Chong cited MCA’s performance in the Johor election as an example, saying the party’s gains reflected the importance of having local representatives who were visible and responsive to residents’ needs.
He said the results were largely due to the efforts of local representatives, particularly councillors, who were accessible to residents and able to assist them.
MCA won eight of the 15 seats it contested in Johor, retaining four and regaining another four.
On MCA reportedly being allocated two of the five appointed state assembly seats in Melaka, Chong said the appointments were conditional on Barisan Nasional forming the state government.
He said it was therefore contradictory for opponents to tell voters not to support MCA candidates because the party was expected to receive two appointed seats.
“If our opponents say MCA has already secured two appointed seats and voters therefore do not need to vote for our candidates, does that mean they have already accepted that they will not form the state government?” he asked.
Chong also asked opposition assemblymen who had served several terms, including periods in government, to explain what they had achieved in their constituencies.
MCA is contesting four seats in the Melaka polls, with incumbents Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem and Datuk Lim Ban Hong defending Machap Jaya and Kelebang respectively.
Melaka Historic City Council councillors Jasmine Lok Huey Yee and Melvin Chua Kew Wei are contesting Bandar Hilir and Kota Laksamana respectively.
