DEMOGRAPHY is not the sole factor taken into consideration to select the Barisan Nasional candidate to contest in the Tg Piai by-election next month.

On the other hand, the choice of candidate will take into consideration the spirit of cooperation among BN component parties, said MCA deputy president Dr Mah Hang Soon.

“If all considerations were based on the majority (demography or total residents), then where would we put MCA seats?

“So, the selection is not merely based on the total number or percentage of residents (voters) or the demography.

“The most important thing is the unity of the people. We have to move forward as a team,” he said in an interview with Bernama on the party’s preparation for the Tg Piai parliamentary by-election in Johor Baru today.

On whether his statement meant MCA was not concerned about who the candidate to be fielded is, Mah said it was not like that.

“Let us not be too preoccupied with such talk, so much so we become obsessed about it.

“What I meant is for all parties. To me, let us leave it and give space to the top leadership, and I am sure the top leadership of BN will discuss the matter and make the best decision.”

Mah said similarly, MCA did not deny that the party was well-placed to put up a candidate to represent BN.    

“If we look carefully, MCA is indeed the suitable party to field the candidate. But this is not a demand but a calculated move after taking all into consideration.

Tg Piai was traditionally a MCA seat before it was seized by Bersatu in the 14th general election (GE14).

The Tg Piai constituency comprises 57% Malay voters, Chinese voters 942%) and Indian voters (1%).

The Tg Piai by-election is the ninth by-election after GE14 following the death of its incumbent, Dr Md Farid Md Rafik, 42, who was also the deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, on September 21 of heart complications.

In GE14, Dr Md Farid who was an anaesthesiologist, won the seat with a majority of 524 votes after defeating Wee Jeck Seng (BN-MCA) and Nordin Othman (PAS). – Bernama, October 5, 2019.