MCA will be contesting in the Tanjung Piai by-election

 

Barisan Nasional (BN) had decided which of its component parties will contest for the upcoming Tanjung Piai by-election on November 16. The answer is MCA.

 

Previously, UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that his party was interested in contesting for the parliamentary seat.

 

This led to the speculation that there was a riff within BN. Then, MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said he hopes that BN would honour its over six decades of collaboration by appointing an MCA candidate for the by-election.

 

 

The revelation that MCA will be contesting for the Tanjung Piai by-election was made on October 29.

 

It is interesting to note that the top influencers for the topic ‘Tanjung Piai’ after the announcement were UMNO politicians, rather than MCA leaders.

 

The first on the list was UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yakoob who clarified that there was no riff between UMNO and MCA. The delay in candidate announcement happened because the coalition was waiting for the right time.

 

Zahid Hamidi voiced a similar narration for the delay, he said he was “ordered” not to announced the candidate for BN on the same day that Pakatan Harapan announce its candidate.

 

Meanwhile, UMNO supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan claimed that the support of the Chinese will return to BN as many Chinese business owners are unhappy with PH’s administration that has led to the nation’s sluggish economy.

 

 

Nevertheless, MCA has yet to announce its candidate. MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said the announcement will be made on October 30, after the Isha prayer.

 

In this case, the candidate announcement will be made approximately after 8.30pm. It was speculated that former two-time Tanjung Piai MP Wee Jeck Seng will be representing MCA.

 

On a side note, Wee used the Isha prayer reference which could be a way to appeal to the majority Muslim voters in the constituency.

 

Pakatan Harapan elected Bersatu’s Karmaine Sardini as its candidate for the Tanjung Piai by-election, while Gerakan fielded Wendy Subramaniam.