FORMER Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein is hoping Malay voters in Tg Piai will accept and vote for Barisan Nasional’s Chinese candidate Wee Jeck Seng of MCA.

He said if PAS can accept Wee as the candidate, there is no reason why the Malay voters will reject Wee.

“Even though we have an understanding with PAS, there is no reason why Umno cannot accept MCA. I hope Tg Piai voters can accept my friend and we can move forward as one,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

There have been calls from Umno grassroots to name a Malay candidate for the seat as the constituency comprised 57% Malay voters.

Wee was a two-term MP before losing to Md Farid Md Rafik of Bersatu in last year’s general election with a margin of 524 votes.

Hishammuddin, who is Sembrong MP, said Umno’s decision to name Wee shows that the Malay party is not racist.

He added that nominating Wee is an effort to open up a new political landscape.

“I’m relieved as it shows we are not playing to the race sentiment.”

The by-election on November 16 will see a six-cornered fight involving Bersatu Tg Piai division chief Karmaine Sardini, 66, Wee, Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (Berjasa) president Badrulhisham Abdul Aziz, 56, Gerakan’s deputy secretary-general Wendy Subramaniam, 38, and two independent candidates, Ang Chuan Lock, 39, and Faridah Aryani Abd Ghaffar, 43.

The by-election is called following the sudden death of incumbent Farid in September. – November 4, 2019.