MCA to contest Melaka state election - Zahid

ALOR GAJAH - Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said MCA will contest the Melaka state election, polling for which is on Nov 14.

The Deputy Prime Minister said a meeting involving MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and Melaka chief minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh had yielded positive results.

"I cannot make the announcement as I have given the Melaka chief minister the mandate to do so.

Please direct any follow-up questions to him,” he told reporters after closing the Jelita Open Day - 12 Hours Sprint Training programme at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) in Durian Tunggal here today.

Also present were Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek, Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari and UTeM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Massila Kamalrudin.

MCA was reported to have said that it would not recognise any of its party candidates announced by BN for the Melaka polls without the approval of the party’s top leadership.

Wee said that announcing candidates without consultation and MCA’s agreement was unacceptable, especially when seats previously contested by MCA were allegedly given to other parties.

On Saturday, BN announced the coalition’s candidates who will contest in 21 seats, including two MCA candidates, namely incumbent Machap Jaya assemblyman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem and incumbent Kelebang assemblyman Datuk Lim Ban Hong.

Meanwhile, asked about dissatisfaction among voters over candidate changes in several constituencies, Zahid said the matter would be resolved internally with those involved.

"Such issues arise in every by-election, state election and, even more so, general election. They are not unique to BN but also occur in other political coalitions.

"This is a common occurrence, and I believe we can find the best possible solution,” he said, adding that no further changes to the candidates would be made ahead of nomination day this Saturday. - BERNAMA