BARISAN Nasional should field a Chinese candidate in the Tanjung Piai by-election, said MCA leaders, following the Vote Muslim First campaign launched by Malay civil society group Gerakan Pengundi Sedar (GPS).

The party leaders feel that Tg Piai voters will pick the best candidate, irrespective of race or religion.

MCA Youth chief Nicole Wong said the GPS campaign is aimed at tearing Malaysians apart.

“MCA and BN have always been moderate. Regardless of the candidate’s race or religion, we welcome them if they share our ideals,” she said, as the party readies itself for another go at the federal seat.

Johor MCA deputy chairman and Senator Lim Pay Hen said the chapter already has people on the ground in the constituency, finding out what voters want.

He said the party will poll voters to understand the issues close to their hearts.

“We want to prepare ourselves for the by-election. We don’t want to be drawn on this GPS campaign,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

MCA’s civil society movement bureau chief, Ng Kian Nam, described the campaign as extreme.

“This runs against the federal constitution because everyone has the same basic rights and should not be discriminated against based on their race or religion.”

He said even PAS is more moderate, as it does not tell people to vote for Muslims only.

Like its “Buy Muslim Product” campaign, said Ng, GPS’ polls ploy will fail because Malaysians are mature enough to choose wisely.

“It is meaningless if everything is viewed only through the lens of race and religion. We should focus instead on having a candidate capable of serving the constituency.”

Hot on the heels of Umno’s claim, GPS launched the online Vote Muslim First campaign for the Tg Piai by-election.

MCA has contested the seat in four general elections, after it was created in a 2003 redelineation exercise.

Former party president Ong Ka Ting won Tg Piai in the 2004 elections, before Wee Jeck Seng bagged it in 2008 and 2013.

In last year’s elections, Bersatu’s Dr Md Farid Md Rafik surprised Wee to snatch the seat with a slim margin of 524 votes, or 1.1%, in a three-cornered fight that included PAS’ Nordin Othman.

Following Farid’s death on September 21, BN lynchpin Umno said it should contest the Malay-majority seat because it has a better chance of success. Malays make up 57% of Tg Piai voters, Chinese (42%) and Indians (1%). – September 30, 2019.