Even the Chinese New Year celebrations have failed to bring about a ceasefire between MCA and DAP leaders.

This afternoon, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng accused MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong of being dishonest.

“This is only the fourth day of Chinese New Year, please stop lying," he told a press conference.

Lim was responding to a report in The Star, which quoted Wee highlighting the possibility of the chief minister contesting against him for the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat in Johor.

"We also heard that his son, Penang Chief Minister (Lim) Guan Eng wants to contest for the seat (Ayer Hitam),” Wee said.

The MCA deputy president also did not discount the possibility of Pakatan Harapan fielding a parachute candidate in Ayer Hitam.

He said this is because the opposition coalition does not have a reputable leader from the area.

No 1 versus No 1

Meanwhile, Lim denied expressing interest in wanting to contest the Ayer Hitam seat and claimed that Wee was using him to promote himself.

"When did I ever say I would contest in Ayer Hitam? Please do not use me to do your self-promotion.

"You must remember you are number two in MCA.

"If there is any contest, it should be number one against number one," added the DAP secretary-general.

Lim said since Wee represented the Chinese community by virtue of his position as an MCA leader, the latter should contest in a Chinese-majority seat as opposed to a Malay-majority seat.

"But I don't think Wee would dare contest in a Chinese majority seat," he said.

Lim's father and DAP veteran Kit Siang had also raised this issue last week, pointing out that apart from Wee, MCA president Liow Tiong Lai and secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan were also depending on Umno's votes to defend their Bentong and Tanjung Malim seats respectively.

“In fact, Malay voters represent the largest ethnic group in six of the seven parliamentary constituencies won by MCA in the 13th general election.

“Is MCA representing the Chinese in BN or is it representing Umno to the Malaysian Chinese? Or is MCA representing all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion?” he had asked.