KUALA KUBU BAHARU – Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is still hopeful MCA will help the unity government’s machinery in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
He said there was no ultimatum or set period for the BN Chinese component party, but understood that it needed to let its “sorrow subside”.
“We understand and respect their party leadership,” Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, told reporters at the grounds of the nomination centre for the by-election this morning.
“I don’t see any problem with MCA’s cooperation at the division and state level,” he added.
Zahid, who is also Umno president, said he was confident that his party’s close alliance with MCA since 1955 can help ease its friction with DAP.
BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH) are allies in the unity government but MCA has remained firm that it will not help campaign in this by-election if a DAP candidate is fielded.
MCA’s decision follows the party’s anger at remarks made by DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke in a recent podcast interview that allegedly insulted the party.
DAP-PH is fielding Pang Sock Tao, 31, the press secretary to Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.
The Kuala Kubu Baharu seat used to be an MCA stronghold when BN and PH were rivals, before it was seized by DAP in 2013.
Zahid today said that BN respected PH’s decision to field a DAP candidate, as the unity government leaders had an understanding that some seats were best represented by certain parties.
He also said Umno and MIC’s machineries were ready to mobilise in Kuala Kubu Baharu to canvass votes. – April 27, 2024