PKR will field Teja assemblyperson Chang Lih Kang in Tanjong Malim in the coming general election, in a bid to unseat MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan.

Gopeng MP Lee Boon Chye's political secretary Sandrea Ng will, in turn, defend the Teja state seat, which Chang has held for two terms.

Chang said PKR made the decision to move him to the Tanjong Malim parliamentary seat (P77) in 2016.

“Pakatan Harapan aims for Putrajaya. If we cannot capture a mixed seat like Tanjong Malim, then we will not be able to capture Putrajaya.

"I am PKR Youth secretary-general. So this will be a battle between sec-gen and sec-gen," Chang told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Tanjong Malim comprises more than half Malay voters, of which half are Felda settlers, he pointed out.

As Malay votes may swing in their favour this time, PKR would have a good chance, said Chang.

Another challenge for Ong (photo), he said, is that the issue of MCA’s candidate for Tanjong Malim is still unresolved.

"I don't think I am committing political suicide. If we were to field a freshman, it may be.

“But I am relatively senior…… As a senior leader in Perak, I have the responsibility to win more seats for PKR.

"Even if I were to lose eventually, I would have no regrets," he said.

Uncertainty within MCA

In 2008, Chang made his debut and won Teja with a razor-thin majority of 174 votes, earning the reputation of "tsunami elected representative". In 2013, his majority rose to 2,082 votes.

Ong is a two-term Tanjong Malim MP and second international trade and industry minister. In 2008, he helped MCA defend Tanjong Malim with a majority of 5,422 votes, despite a political tsunami that severely impacted MCA nationally.

In 2013, he beat PKR political bureau member Tan Yee Kew, who was formerly MCA Wanita deputy chief, with a majority of 4,328 votes.

Tanjong Malim is one of the seven parliamentary seats MCA retained after the last election.

However, Perak state exco and MCA state chief Mah Hang Soon is also aiming for Tanjong Malim in the coming election, and MCA has yet to announce its decision, adding uncertainty for Ong to defend his seat.

According to the 2013 general election data, Tanjong Malim has 64,499 voters, comprising 53 percent Malays, 27 percent Chinese and 14 percent Indians.