Give us Tanjung Piai parliamentary seat, Umno division tells MCA

SM Amin SM Amin Updated 4 years ago · Published on 22 Sep 2019 8:21PM · 11 Comments

Tanjung Piai Umno chief Jefridin Atan says the majority of the constituency is Malay, so Umno should be in a better position than previous to win the seat in a by-election. – Facebook pic, September 22, 2019.

THE Tanjung Piai Umno division wants to contest the pending parliamentary by-election in the constituency and is hoping ally MCA will give up its traditional seat.

Division chief Jefridin Atan told The Malaysian Insight that his party and the Malays in the constituency had been claiming the seat for a long time but had previously given it to MCA due to a political understanding at national level between the two parties.

He also revealed that in the last general election, the Umno voters of Tanjung Piai were unhappy with the party decision to hand the seat back to MCA, resulting in them revolting at the ballot box.

“This is why the BN/MCA candidate lost in GE14. The party members here demanded they be given the seat but the leadership ignored their calls. As a result they voted for the opposition.

“Now it is time for the seat to be returned to us as the voters here are ready to back us,” he said.

The seat fell vacant following the sudden death yesterday of its incumbent, Dr Md Farid Md Rafik from Bersatu.

Farid, 42, died in Pontion Hospital, Johor, believed due to a heart attack. He was the Tanjung Piai Bersatu vice-chief.

He won the seat at the last general election by defeating Wee Jeck Seng of MCA with a majority of 524 votes.

In a three-cornered fight, Farid garnered 21,255 votes while Wee gained 20,731 votes. PAS’s Nordin Othman managed to win 2,962 votes.

Wee had held the seat since 2008. Before that, it was held by Ong Ka Ting.

Umno feels it can win the seat in the by-election following its recent pact with PAS.

Jefridin said the proportion of Malay voters in the constituency had increased to 57% now, compared with 51% in 2004.

“While the final decision is up to the leadership, we need to accept the fact that majority of the voters here are Malays.

“MCA had held this seat for a long time, for about 20 years in all,” he said.

“When we see an increase in Malay voters, the Malays want this seat,” he added.

He also said that Umno would not be sidelining MCA by taking back the seat, adding that this was only for the by-election.

“When it comes to general election, we can look back at the larger national agenda in division of seats,” he said.

Yesterday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party will discuss with its BN partners on who should contest in the Tanjung Piai by-election. – September 22, 2019.

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Comments

  • UMNO corruption was the main reason for BN's defeat in GE14. It was not MCA, please do not blame the wrong guy.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Malays want the seat or UMNO wants the seat...?

    Posted 4 years ago by Julian Nagelsmann · Reply

  • Can't imagine how Malaysia Canine Association going to disobey its master's demand.

    Posted 4 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply

  • Umno has a point. MCA is till too weak. MCA didnt do anything to reform its party. When you lose the government, MCA should have done maximum to reform the party but zero

    Posted 4 years ago by Derrick Tan · Reply

  • Tomorrow they will ask for all seats.
    Akan datang.

    Posted 4 years ago by Watch Dog · Reply

  • Say no!

    Posted 4 years ago by Yoon Kok · Reply

  • That is why the country will never move forward with the UMNO-BN coterie. Still playing racial politics to the hilt, while the rest of the developed world move on in the 21st century. Throw in PAS to the mix, and a still-impotent MCA, and these guys think that Malaysia is on love with them.
    Then again, Pakatan too is pretty much that game; so what we would have is collateral damage, because
    these guys are merely in it for the perks.

    Posted 4 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply

  • UMNO-PAS collaboration is all about race & religion, other races will be sedelined. Thats the reality despite what they say this collaboration is for all Malaysians.
    The future of Malaysia is not going to be progressive but down the drains.

    Posted 4 years ago by Ramesh Balakrishnan · Reply

  • When will the voters reject race politics? The maturity of Malaysians rest in this aspect of action, where race and religion are of secondary importance.

    Posted 4 years ago by Citizen Pencen · Reply

  • Come on MCA, be the good puppy that you are... you'll get a treat.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mo Salleh · Reply

  • Just give it to Umno, easy way out. After all, no more 'kangtao' already. MCA has her share of power as puppet partner and only when Umno is strong , BN can win. So stay weak and to ensure fully exploited, utilized and belittled by Umno so that Umno can win the election. MCA subscribe this philosophy of politicking in Malaysia? Boneless, betrayal of the race and plan to fail in politic.

    Posted 4 years ago by James Wong · Reply