WHILE most Chinese professionals and youth have ditched MCA for DAP since 2008, Tan Chee Teong said he is sticking with the Barisan Nasional component not out of ignorance, but conviction.

“I’m not a fool. I’m mad. A fool doesn’t differentiate right from wrong. A mad person is mad for sticking to one thing, a reasonable madness,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“I have my political ideals. If the government does right, I’ll compliment it. If it does wrong, I’ll speak up and oppose in the state assembly,” said the businessman, who is MCA’s candidate for the Balakong by-election.

Shortly after Tan’s candidacy was announced by the party on Tuesday, Facebook users attacked him for representing MCA.

However, the 40-year-old has taken it in stride, saying he solidly backs the party, which lost all but one parliamentary seat on May 9, because of its past contributions.

“I don’t think it’s wrong to wear the MCA uniform. I don’t think MCA is wrong.

“Even if there have been wrongs, they were personal mistakes… I’m still with MCA because I approve of its past contributions.”

Yesterday, he was officially named as the party’s candidate in the September 8 polls.

Tan said MCA has spoken up for the Chinese since it was set up in 1949, adding that the party has always fought for diversity and moderation in governance.

“I approve of MCA’s revamp. I’m 40 this year, and I still have 20 years to help MCA change step by step, to serve the people and country. When I’m 60, I’ll retire and let others take over.”

Tan leads the Cheras Perdana Residents’ Association and Cheras Batu 11 MCA Youth. He also volunteers as a basketball coach at SMK Cheras Perdana.

He said the late Balakong assemblyman, Eddie Ng Tien Chee, of DAP, had invited him to cross over, saying Tan would be better off in DAP.

Ng was killed in a car crash on July 20. He won Balakong with a majority of 35,538 votes in the 14th general election.

Balakong has 62,219 voters, comprising 61% ethnic Chinese, Malays (30%) and Indians (8%).

Social media users have also attacked Tan’s lack of education qualifications, compared with his challenger from Pakatan Harapan, Wong Siew Ki.

Wong has a master’s degree in Chinese literature from Universiti Putra Malaysia, while Tan was educated in vernacular schools in Kajang and holds a diploma from Help University.

“Lower education qualifications do not necessarily mean low capabilities… If I can become a state legislator with a Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia certificate, I believe it will encourage others to join politics.

“Isn’t it a good thing to give others a dream?” – August 19, 2018.