WEE Jeck Seng is readying himself for another run for the Tanjung Piai parliamentary seat, but whether he will even enter the fray is in the hands of the Barisan Nasional leadership.

The former two-term Tanjung Piai MP said it was up to the party’s central leadership to decide on a suitable candidate. 

“It’s too soon to tell whether I will be chosen to contest or not. It is up to party leaders to decide. I will honour and follow their decision,” the MCA man told The Malaysian Insight.

“As a division chief, I have the responsibility to defend the seat and I will definitely make myself ready.” 

Wee was commenting on the possibility of being fielded as a candidate for the by-election after incumbent Tanjung Piai MP Dr Md Farid Md Rafik died of heart complications yesterday, aged 42.

“If party leaders decide to send me contest for Tanjung Piai, I will follow their instructions. But of course, they haven’t discussed anything yet.”

He said it was still too early to discuss their chances of winning. 

Earlier today, DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke said the Tanjung Piai by-election would be a major test for Pakatan Harapan. 

He had said PH components must do their best to defend the federal seat, which Farid had won by a slim majority in the 14th general election last year.

Farid, of Bersatu, was also a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.

In GE14, Farid beat Wee and PAS’ Nordin Othman to win the Tanjung Piai seat by a mere 524 votes.

Meanwhile, MCA Johor deputy chairman Lim Pay Hen said because MCA president Wee Ka Siong was currently in China, the party would wait for his return before discussing the issue.

“We will discuss the matter in our coming central committee meeting on September 26.”

Lim said that the party would push for a MCA candidate to contest.

“It use to be a MCA stronghold; we lost by a small margin in the May 9 election,” Lim said.

“Wee has a good reputation in Tanjung Piai, but whether to send him to contest, that we have to consult with the party leadership.

“We have heard (talk) of (Umno trying to take back Tanjung Piai), but I’m not in the position to discuss it, or else, it will create misunderstanding.”

The date for the by-election date is expected to be announced by the Election Commission soon.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had yesterday said the party would discuss with its BN partners on the candidate to field in Tanjung Piai.

Going by the constituency’s breakdown by race – 57% of its constituents are Malays, Chinese (42%) and Indians (1%) – it is highly likely the former ruling pact will name a candidate from Umno.

In the Cameron Highlands by-election earlier this year, BN went with an Orang Asli candidate instead of one from MIC, a decision that fell in the coalition’s favour.

Umno and PAS had, at the time, worked together to drum up support for Ramli Mohd Nor, setting the stage for cooperation in subsequent by-elections in Semenyih, Selangor and Rantau, Negri Sembilan. – September 22, 2019.