Allowing MCA to contest in Tg Piai shows Umno not racist, says Hishammuddin

TG PIAI POLLS | Umno's Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein said BN's decision to allow to MCA to contest in the Tanjung Piai by-election despite lobbying by Umno grassroots showed that his party is not racist.

"I am relieved about Tanjung Piai. What is important is that BN has proven that we are not a racist party.

"I see that the party machinery and Malays are also accepting (of MCA) which will be the start of a new political landscape in Malaysia," he told journalists when met at the Parliament lobby today.

Hishammuddin said he also hopes that the general voters in Tanjung Piai will accept MCA.

"Tanjung Piai shows that even though there is Muslim unity between PAS and Umno, PAS can still accept MCA.

"So I hope that Tanjung Piai voters can accept my friend and we can move forward," he said.

BN had on Saturday nominated MCA's Wee Jeck Seng (above, middle) as its candidate for the Tanjung Piai bye-election despite fierce lobbying from Umno grassroots to have a candidate from their own party.

Wee was the Tanjung Piai MP from 2008 until 2018 but lost the seat to Bersatu's Mohamed Farid Md Rafik in the 14th general election.

Farid passed away from a heart attack in September, triggering the by-election.

The two frontrunners in the Tanjung Piai by-election are Wee and Bersatu's Karmaine Sardini.

The other candidates are Berjasa's Badhrulhisham Abdul Aziz, Gerakan's Wendy Subramaniam and independent candidates Ang Chuan Lock and Faridah Aryani Abd Ghaffar.

Campaigning began last Saturday and Tanjung Piai voters will go to the polls on Nov 16.