Melaka state election: Ka Siong surprised by BN’s candidate announcement, Zahid assures MCA negotiations remain open

BAGAN DATUK: Barisan Nasional (BN) Chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has assured that negotiations over MCA’s candidate list for the Melaka State Election can still continue.

He confirmed that MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong was surprised after not being informed in advance about the candidate announcement made at an event at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) last night.

“It is true that he was surprised because the secretariat did not inform him about the candidate announcement. However, we will resolve this issue and hold discussions before October 31,” he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister was speaking to reporters at the Bagan Datuk District Sultan Nazrin Shah Bridge Run programme here today.

He was responding to claims that the MCA candidate list announced by BN last night had yet to receive official approval from the central leadership of the BN component party.

Ahmad Zahid said he would leave the matter to Melaka BN Chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

“I will leave it to Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh because he may have already discussed the matter with the Melaka MCA chairman and leadership.

“There is still room for changes if the candidates are not agreed upon, as I have yet to sign the appointment letters.

“So, it is up to the MCA President to take the necessary action,” he said.

Earlier, media reports said Ka Siong’s decision to leave the hall during BN’s candidate introduction ceremony for the Melaka State Election last night had raised questions about the component party’s position on seat allocations.

The MCA President was also understood to have instructed party members attending the event to leave the hall, reportedly due to the party’s dissatisfaction with the distribution of seats allocated to MCA for the Melaka State Election.

Berita Harian