Former ntv7 Mandarin news anchor Victor Gu's entry into the MCA early last month has set a lot of tongues wagging in the party.

There was a general welcome for the 30-year-old television hot-shot among MCA members but some resistance was noted after rumours emerged that Gu would be contesting the Damansara Utama state seat in the coming elections.

Gu, who had also hosted the popular game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (Chinese version), was appointed head of the MCA's public speaking youth speakers team soon after he became a party member.

Gu joined MCA via the Petaling Jaya Utara division and Damansara Utama is one the state seats under the PJ Utara parliamentary constituency.

According to party sources, some grassroots and youth leaders have voiced their unhappiness if Gu is selected to contest Damansara Utama in the coming general election, widely speculated to be held early next year.

Ka Ting wants him?

As with similar cases in the past, the older members were unable to accept that a 'political freshman' has been parachuted to the seat and had 'jumped queue' from a long line of aspirant candidates.

But a source said that party president Ong Ka Ting is backing Gu's candidacy for Damansara Utama. His reason - MCA has to compete with the DAP in fielding more well known young professionals.

DAP recently recruited a number of new bigwigs, including blogger Jeff Ooi , and is said to be preparing them as candidates for the coming polls.

But Ong's insistence was not welcomed by the grassroots, some of whom had expressed fears that Gu may not be able to retain the seat which has been under MCA's control since 1999. Should this happen, they said that Ong would have to bear full responsibility.

They argued that although Gu has a fresh image, he has never been tested in politics.

However, Gu came out blaming the media for spreading rumours about him and his entry into MCA.

He insisted that he never received any offer from the party to contest in the elections. "Until now, I have not received any offer and hence, I never think about being a candidate," he told Malaysiakini.

Gu said that all PJ division members whom he met have warmly welcomed him into the party and "some even sent me text messages expressing their willingness to co-operate with me."

He said MCA Youth chief Liow Tiong Lai had also attended the launch of MCA's public speaking youth speakers team, proving that MCA youth leaders were okay with him.

Former DAP stronghold

Asked for her comments on the matter, Petaling Jaya Utara MP Chew Mei Fun described Gu as a new freshman and "it's too early to speculate whether he will be contesting in the coming general election."

"He has just joined the party. We always welcome young people and anyone to join the party. But whether they become candidates or not depends on the party leadership."

Incumbent Damansara Utama state assemblyperson Lim Choon Kin, when contacted, said he was aware of the talks but that he has not been informed officially that Gu has been selected to contest the seat.

"It could possibly be just rumours as the general election is around the corner. Anyway, nobody wanted this seat before 1999 as it was a DAP stronghold," he added.

Lim first won Damansara Utama in 1999 and was re-elected in 2004. The constituency has over 45,000 voters with 82.62% Chinese, 11.92% Malay and 4.78% Indian.