Wee welcomes Malay opponent in Ayer Hitam, rues 'runaway' challenger

MCA president Wee Ka Siong has welcomed DAP central executive committee member Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali contesting against him in the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat for the 15th general election (GE15).

"I welcome the move (to contest in the seat). Anyone has the right to contest in Ayer Hitam.

"However, I'm upset that Liew Chin Tong, who pledged to contest here, will not be able to do so," Wee (above) said after attending the Keluarga Malaysia Driving Licence Assistance programme in Ayer Hitam, earlier today.

Liew lost the Ayer Hitam seat to Wee by a razor-thin majority of 303 votes in GE14.

Following the defeat, Liew had said that he would file an election petition to challenge the results. The petition was later dismissed.

Recalling Liew's pledge to "rise where he fell", Wee lamented the fact that the former had been denied the chance to do so this time around.

"I waited for four years (to meet the challenge), but it has now amounted to nothing.

"So, whoever comes (to challenge me), I can't stop. I leave it to the rakyat (Ayer Hitam voters) to decide who has been with them all this time," the transport minister said.

Up to the electorate

Wee further took a jab at the opposition for constantly changing their candidates.

"We (BN) don't always change our candidates, that's the difference between us and them (opposition).

"This is not the first time. In 2004, they fielded a Malay candidate (from PAS), but later (in 2013), they fielded a Chinese candidate under the PAS banner (PAS Supporters Congress chairperson Hu Pang Chow)," he said.

Now, the opposition has fielded a Malay candidate from DAP to help win Malay votes, he added.

In announcing Sheikh Umar's candidacy at a fundraising dinner in Muar on Thursday night, Liew said fielding the former could lead to new possibilities and breakthroughs among the Malay electorate.

Commenting further, Wee said that while the opposition has its methods to contest, BN too has its formula for winning.

"Win or lose, I leave it to the electorate. You want to field Sheikh Umar, or as previously mentioned Tony Pua or the one who promised to contest here and 'ran away' (alluding to Liew), it may be DAP's strategy, to avoid clashes and so on.

"That's the opposition's way. As for me, I humbly ask for support and blessings from my voters," he added.

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