Former MCA president Ong Tee Keat today questioned the party’s decision not to field a candidate for the Bukit Gelugor by-election, slatted for May 25.
The former Pandan MP in a statement said the no-contest decision would only leave room for skepticism that the party is now exhausted of winnable candidates.
MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan, yesterday, announced the party would not contest the seat under the Barisan Nasional banner but would concentrate on efforts to block hudud laws from being implemented or tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.
Ong, however, pointed out that fighting for the federal constitution against PAS’ move to implement hudud has never been a seasonal initiative.
“It is a continuous party commitment irrespective of general election or by-election.
“(Therefore), it does not hamper the party from contesting in the Bukit Gelugor by-election,” he said.
He further reasoned how MCA’s participation will instead provide a good barometric measurement of its present level of acceptance within the Chinese community.
Ong added that MCA had successfully exploited the DAP-PAS collaboration in purportedly enhancing the hudud implementation during the 1995 and 1999 general elections.
“That had caused enormous electoral setback to DAP. Now that MCA is on the issue again with much gusto and publicity, I see no reason for fear of contesting on the part of MCA,” he said.
Yesterday, DAP announced that Ramkarpal Singh would be the party’s candidate to contest for the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seat.
The seat fell vacant after Ramkarpal’s father, DAP veteran Karpal Singh, was killed in a car crash last month.
The Election Commission had fixed May 25 as polling day for the by-election, while nomination for the contest would be on May 12. Early polling is set for May 21.
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