Wee warns MCA candidates not to be complacent

JOHOR BARU: All MCA candidates for GE14 have been told to work hard and not take their voters for granted.

MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said it was pointless to be popular outside the constituency as it was more about taking care of their local constituents.

“Do not be complacent. Take this as a big challenge as the Opposition is so gung-ho about winning here.

“Even I have to convince some 46,000 voters in my area (Ayer Hitam),” he said after attending the Johor Barisan Nasional’s unveiling of candidates yesterday.

MCA will be contesting in eight parliamentary seats and 15 state seats here.

Dr Wee said that MCA candidates should also be proactive to rebut allegations from the Opposition and also to explain the Barisan Nasional’s manifesto to the people.

“Every vote counts. We need to work hard to improve the Chinese representation in the state from the four parliamentary and two state seats MCA won in GE13,” he added.

Asked about Pakatan Harapan moving its big names to Johor, he said that they were like “political stars” but it was the Barisan candidates who were serving the public.

“Opposition candidates do not serve or are not answerable to the people. That is why they move around as they are only answerable to their party,” he said.

MCA vice-president Datuk Chua Tee Yong said that he would work hard and not underestimate his DAP opponent Pang Hok Liong in their fight for the Labis parliamentary seat.

Although Pang was not a “superstar” candidate unlike some of the more prominent Opposition names linked to the seat in recent weeks, Chua said he would not be resting on his laurels especially since he won in GE13 with a slim majority of 353 votes.

Pang, he said, was a formidable rival with his long experience in politics.

He also questioned DAP’s claims that there would be a Malay tsunami this time.

“If they expect a tsunami, then why are they fielding candidates mainly in areas that MCA and Gerakan are contesting in?” he asked.