Wee Ka Siong has retained his grip on the Ayer Hitam seat for three-terms, defeating PAS contenders in the Malay-majority parliamentary constituency in Johor.

In the coming 14th general election, the MCA deputy president is expected to face Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong.

According to a DAP insider, the party's election preparation committee has endorsed Liew for the seat.

“The committee has given the green light. Therefore, it need not be discussed in the central executive committee (CEC),” the insider told Malaysiakini.

The committee comprises secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, chairperson Tan Kok Wai, deputy chairperson Gobind Singh Deo and vice chairperson M Kulasegaran.

The committee is empowered by the CEC to decide on candidates.

Liew, who would move from his Chinese-majority seat of Kluang, would also be dicing with danger given Umno's attacks on DAP as a threat to the position of the Malays and Islam.

DAP has described this as a false perception manufactured to frighten the Malay electorate.

Furthermore, PAS is also expected to field a candidate in Ayer Hitam.

It would also be a test for Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Bersatu, which aims to conquer Johor, on whether it can counter Umno's propaganda against DAP.

Guan Eng had reservations

Malaysiakini learned that Liew had offered himself to contest in Ayer Hitam, but Guan Eng had reservations about his prospects.

The source said, however, that Liew was adamant on bringing change by taking on MCA in its fortress.

“He wanted to go, what can we do?” the source said.

Wee is well-liked in the constituency and retained the semi-urban seat with a 7,310 vote majority in the last general election.

Read more: Exploring the impenetrable kampung parit of Ayer Hitam

DAP is expected to announce the candidate for the seat on March 18 in conjunction with the party's 52nd anniversary at the Pakatan Harapan election campaign centre in Ayer Hitam.

If confirmed, this would be the first time Liew takes on a full minister.

In the 2008 general election, the then political novice defeated Gerakan's Chia Kwang Chye, who was deputy information minister, in Bukit Bendera, Penang.

Five years later, he slayed MCA's Hou Kok Chung, the then higher education deputy minister, in Kluang.

Contacted for comment, Liew chose to keep his cards close to his chest. “We will see what happens on that day (March 18),” he told Malaysiakini.

Meanwhile, Sin Chew Daily reported that another DAP heavyweight in Johor, Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching, might contest in Yong Peng as well.

Yong Peng is a Chinese-majority state seat under the Ayer Hitam parliamentary constituency.

The report also said that DAP's Senai assemblyperson Wong Shu Qi would be contesting in Kluang if Liew is moved to Ayer Hitam.

Previously, it was reported that Wee was unfazed by DAP's plan to bring him down.

“Bring it on,” said the minister in the Prime Minister's Department.