GE14 | MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan said he will try to persuade his supporters in Tanjung Malim to calm down and support BN in the May 9 general election.

Ong, a two-term Tanjung Malim MP, said his absence from BN's candidate line-up for the 14th general election was not a political manoeuvre.

He said this following a protest in Putrajaya today against BN's decision not to field him again.

Read more: Pro-Ka Chuan Tg Malim residents storm Putrajaya

"I am very sad that this happened. I have already made an open statement about my acceptance regarding the fact that I will not be contesting in the 14th general election.

"However, the group of supporters that went to Putrajaya to show their disappointment was beyond my control. I had built up a close relationship with them since 2008.

"They are like my family members, like my brothers and sisters. I think they cannot accept the fact that our relationship had to end abruptly," Ong said.

The protest today was attended by about 300 people from various ethnic groups. Some of the protesters said Ong had rendered help to them in a very timely manner.

Ong, 63, has won every election he has been part of since 1986, save for 2004.

He will be replaced as BN's candidate by Mah Hang Soon, who will face off with Pakatan Harapan's Chang Lih Kang and PAS' Tarmizi Abdul Rahman.