IN a bid to retain the traditional Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold of Tanjung Malim, caretaker deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hinted he would lobby for a ministerial post for BN candidate Dr Mah Hang Soon if the people voted him in.

“If he can defend Tanjung Malim, I’ll whisper to (caretaker) prime minister Najib (Razak) to give Dr Mah Hang Soon a good position,” said Ahmad Zahid during a visit to the constituency in southern Perak, yesterday evening.

Zahid visited voters in Bidor, a Chinese-majority town, and Sungkai, an Indian-majority town.

Dr Mah is the Perak MCA chief and a former state executive councillor.

Just a few days ago, Najib had reiterated his threat to allot MCA fewer posts in the cabinet if BN failed to receive strong Chinese support.

BN’s replacement of incumbent Tanjung Malim MP and MCA secretary general Ong Ka Chuan with Mah had caused resentment among Ong’s supporters in the constituency.

Meanwhile, Zahid also repeated his promise to make Sungkai BN candidate V Elango a state executive councillor if the Perak MIC chief beats incumbent A Sivanesan.

Sungkai, one of three state seats under Tanjung Malim, was won by DAP in 2008 and 2013.

Umno won the other two state seats, Slim and Behrang, in 2013.

Zahid also pledged to address local Chinese community issues, including statelessness, and to bring Japanese investments to Sungkai.

The caretaker home minister repeatedly said “potong ayam” to emphasise he meant business. He vowed to return to Tanjung Malim within 150 days after elections to fulfil his promises. – May 3, 2018.