Seremban Umno Youth to fight for party's GE15 candidate, cuts ties with MCA
Seremban Umno has left the final decision on a request from its members to field a candidate in the parliament seat traditionally contested by MCA to Negeri Sembilan state chief Mohamad Hassan.
Seremban Umno Youth chief Zool Amali Hussein (above) told Malaysiakini the matter was decided at a Seremban Umno meeting even prior to his wing's decision yesterday to cut ties with Seremban MCA and Negeri Sembilan MCA...
Seremban Umno has left the final decision on a request from its members to field a candidate in the Parliament seat traditionally contested by MCA to Negeri Sembilan party chief Mohamad Hassan.
Seremban Umno Youth chief Zool Amali Hussein (above) told Malaysiakini the matter was decided at a Seremban Umno meeting prior to his wing's decision yesterday to cut ties with Seremban MCA and Negeri Sembilan MCA.
Zool reaffirmed his wing's decision to cut ties with the BN component, in response to alleged provocations by Seremban MCA chief Siow Koi Voon on the candidate issue in the next 15th general election (GE15).
"He (Siow) had repeatedly provoked us but we resisted.
"We will fight for a candidate from Umno to contest in Seremban.
"Seremban Umno Youth will not work together with Seremban MCA or Negeri Sembilan MCA," he said.
"But the Seremban Umno division might have a different decision. If they are having any events together, then Seremban Umno Youth will not support it," he added.
When contacted, Seremban Umno division chief Mustafa Salim said the division's youth wing had for two years in a row approved a motion for Umno to field its candidate in Seremban.
"For two years the motion was brought to the central level, and the final decision is left in the hands of central leaders," he said.
In confirming Zool's letter authorising the Seremban Umno Youth's decision to cut ties with the state MCA, Mustafa said he had previously advised both parties to refrain from raising problems that could affect BN's preparations for the forthcoming GE15.
'Only a personal opinion'
Separately, BN Youth secretary Fadzmel Fadzil said the Seremban Umno Youth's statement should be seen as a "personal opinion" rather than the party's stand.
"BN Youth would like to state that the decision taken to cut ties (with Seremban MCA and Negeri Sembilan MCA) does not reflect the party's (Umno) stand but is more of a personal opinion.
"Umno Youth is reminded to continue strengthening ties with BN components at all levels," he said in a statement.
"Any decision and position on ties between parties will only be taken by the parties' leaders in the BN supreme council," Fadzmel stressed.
In GE14, former transport minister Anthony Loke retained the Seremban parliamentary seat for DAP, beating MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon with a 30,694-vote majority.
This was despite the seat being a Malay-majority seat at reportedly around 53 percent of elected voters in 2018.
DAP has held the seat since 2008.
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