MCA, disappointed with Umno’s unilateral decision to sit out the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, is considering standing for the state seat, a party source said.

The insider said MCA had always held the seat for the Barisan Nasional coalition until it was won by DAP for Pakatan Harapan in 2013.

The source said the party was upset over Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s declaration that BN would give up the seat to PH.

“The decision not to contest was made by the Umno Supreme Council instead of the BN supreme council.

“Our grassroots wants us to contest but sadly Zahid, without calling for a BN supreme council, announced that the coalition will not take the seat as it belongs to PH.

“That saddened a lot of MCA members.

“We have yet to make a final decision on whether to contest but we could,” the source, a senior member of the party, told The Malaysian Insight.

The source said Zahid should call for a BN supreme council meeting to listen to its component parties before coming to a decision.

“BN has to call for a meeting to discuss (the by-election). It has to listen to the component parties because we (MCA) are still BN.

“If after the discussion, BN decides to allow PH to contest for KKB for strategic reasons, then it is fine.

“But it has to go through procedure. We need a platform to exchange views.

“Then we would be able to explain to our grassroots why the decision was made,” the source added.

Last month, following an Umno Supreme Council meeting, Zahid, who is the party president and BN chairman, said the coalition would not contest in the KKB by-election and would instead support the PH candidate.

The source added that Zahid, who is also the deputy prime minister, should put BN’s interests ahead of the unity government’s.

“Yes, we understand that BN is part of the unity government. 

“But out of respect for BN, he should have called the component parties for a meeting before coming to a decision,” said the source. 

BN consists of Umno, MCA, MIC and Sabah-based PBRS.

The KKB seat in Selangor fell vacant following the death of its three-term DAP assemblyman Lee Kee Hiong on March 21 after a battle with cancer.

Polling day is on May 11. Nomination is on April 27 and early voting, May 7.

The KKB constituency has a mixed electorate of 50% Malays, 30% Chinese and 18% Indians.

According to the electoral roll, there are more than 40,000 registered voters in KKB. – April 18, 2024.