Gerakan has one vacant spot in the Kedah executive council line-up and, according to MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek, MCA wants it.

Chua said the two unfilled positions remaining in the state exco, one allocated to MCA and Gerakan respectively, should be accorded to MCA as Gerakan has no assemblyperson in the state while MCA has two.

The two MCA state assemblyperson are Dr Leong Yong Kong (Gurun) and Chua Thiong Gee (Kulim).

MCA central delegates had reversed the party's resolution during the recent extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Oct 20, allowing its elected representatives to hold government positions at state level.

According to the Kedah constitution, a total of 10 executive councillors are allowed to be appointed, but only eight were sworn in after BN wrested back the state during the May 5 general election.

NONEKedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir (right) had previously said that he would recommend Leong to hold one of the exco positions.

Traditionally, the BN composition for the exco line-up in Kedah is seven posts for Umno and one each for MCA, Gerakan and MIC respectively.

However, both Gerakan and MCA sustained heavy losses in the last general election.

Asked if such a request would affect Gerakan's interest, Dr Chua said it was not an award as Gerakan had no representatives.

"Judging from the party's (MCA) stance, we should ask for the spot if there is space and opportunity," he said.

After the EGM, the party central delegates voted in favour of two of the four resolutions, permitting the party to accept other positions such as senatorships, positions in government-linked companies (GLCs), state government positions and village head positions.

In an immediate response, Gerakan youth chief Tan Keng Liang criticised Dr Chua’s request.

'Why doesn't Chua ask for MIC's quota as well?'

Instead of asking for an exco post for the party, Tan said, Dr Chua should campaign for the betterment of Sg Limau folks and not just only for MCA.

“If Chua wants to be a hero, there are many ways to do it,” he told Malaysiakini today.

“If he is asking for even Gerakan’s quota, he may as well ask for the MIC one as well,” added Tan.

“But... does he have enough assemblypersons to go around? He does not,” he  said.

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