BALAKONG POLLS | The main thrust of MCA’s campaign for the Balakong by-election has been to provide check and balance to the Pakatan Harapan-led Selangor government.

MCA candidate Tan Chee Teong has even made the catchphrase “check and balance” his official tagline – appealing to voters to accord an “underdog” like him a chance in the state assembly to pressure Harapan to fulfil its election manifesto and to prevent it from being corrupt.

As the first week of campaigning draws to a close, a straw poll suggests that Balakong voters – even MCA members among them – remain unconvinced of the party’s ability to play this role.

For 66-year-old tong sui (Chinese dessert) vendor and longtime party member Chong Kwi Weng, MCA needs to leave BN and prove it is able to stand on its own before it tries to hold others accountable.

“As a party member, we have given them (MCA) a chance to say something so many times. Sixty years they were in government, and they did not do anything.

“Gerakan was daring enough to leave BN. We, MCA, have been dragged by our noses, why are we still staying in BN? Tak malu (No shame)?...