GE14 | Penang BN chief Teng Chang Yeow has urged MCA and Gerakan leaders not to jump the gun over the possibility of a seat swap in the state for the coming polls.

Were such a move to take place, it would be to achieve the best results for candidates, Teng added.

"There is nothing to jump (about), when no conclusion has been made yet.

"There is still room for discussion, all this while, we have been meeting weekly to talk about any arising issues," he told Malaysiakini.

Teng was referring to six MCA division leaders expressing their dissatisfaction at the possibility of swapping the Bukit Kawan and Bayan Baru parliamentary seats – which the party contested in the last two elections – with Gerakan.

The six leaders are from the constituencies of Bayan Baru, Tanjong, Bukit Gelugor, Jelutong, Bukit Bendera and Balik Pulau.

In 2008 and 2013, Gerakan lost the Batu Kawan seat to DAP, while MCA lost Bayan Baru to PKR.

However, sources say that Gerakan feels that it might now have a better chance of winning the Bayan Baru seat in this year's election.

Bayan Baru MCA chief Ooi Siew Kim begged to differ, however, claiming that the division was surprised by the possibility of a seats swap.

"We were not informed about it and we were surprised when we read it in the news," Ooi told reporters in Bayan Baru.

In GE13, MCA contested the parliamentary seats of Bayan Baru, Bukit Gelugor, Bagan and Bukit Mertajam, and the state seats of Pengkalan Kota, Komtar, Air Putih, Seri Delima, Paya Terubong, Bagan Jermal, Sungai Puyu, Berapit, Jawi and Padang Lalang.

Both MCA and Gerakan lost all the seats it contested in the state, while Umno won three parliament and 10 state seats.