Balakong by-election: Straight fight between Pakatan Harapan and MCA
BANGI: The Balakong state by-election, to be held this Sept 8, will witness a straight fight between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and MCA.
PH, which is using its own logo for the first time, is fielding Wong Siew Ki, from DAP, while the candidate for MCA is businessman Tan Chee Teong.
The state by-election was called following the death of its incumbent assemblyman Eddie Ng Tien Chee in a road accident last July 20.
The nomination results were announced by returning officer Datuk Rosli Othman at about 10.30am at the Hulu Langat District and Land Office.
The nomination was opened at 9am and closed an hour later.
Earlier, almost 500 supporters from both parties gathered as early as 7.30am in the surrounding area at the Hulu Langat District Office in a show of support to their respective candidates.
Wong, 32 was sent off to the nomination centre by PH supporters, led by Finance Minister and DAP secretarygeneral Lim Guan Eng and Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who is also DAP national organising secretary.
She submitted her nomination paper at 9.13am.
Her nomination was proposed by Kajang Baru DAP chairman Sia Wei Shien and seconded by DAP member Lim Chin Yuan.
Meanwhile, Tan, 40, was accompanied to the nomination centre by party supporters who included deputy president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong and vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.
Tan submitted his nomination paper at 9.06am.
His nomination was proposed by Cheras Batu 11 branch leader Lim Chin Wah and seconded by Kwantong Baru branch leader Ng Hock Hai.
For the first time since the establishment of the Alliance and then the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in 1974, MCA is contesting on its own ticket and using its own logo.
A few supporters from Umno, MIC and Gerakan were also seen in the group to lend their support to the MCA candidate.
In the last general election, Ng, from DAP, defeated BN candidate Lim Chin Wah and Mohamad Ibrahim Ghazali, of Pas, with a majority of 35,538 votes.
Ng secured 41,768 votes, while Lim and Mohamad Ibrahim obtained 5,875 votes and 6,230 votes, respectively. — Bernama