FT seats: MCA Youth questions DAP's commitment to coalition govt

MCA Youth today questioned DAP’s sense of solidarity within the federal coalition government after the latter insisted it would not give up any of its parliamentary seats in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur to other parties.

Deputy MCA Youth chief Mike Chong stated that the stance taken by DAP’s Kuala Lumpur MPs clearly contradicted the spirit of cooperation expected in the government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“It also gives the impression that DAP still looks down on BN and is only cooperating out of necessity for their own political interests,” he said in a statement today.

What’s more disappointing, Chong said, was that the MPs seemed to belittle the suggestions made by BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, even though it was merely a proposal.

He also noted that the MPs responded publicly and without consulting their party’s leadership.

Over my dead body

Malaysiakini recently reported that several DAP MPs are firmly against handing over their seats in Kuala Lumpur to BN, despite both being in the same coalition government.

This followed after Zahid, the deputy prime minister, said BN is looking to contest five parliamentary constituencies in the Federal Territories.

However, he promised there would be no overlaps.

DAP MPs who reacted negatively to the proposal include the party’s national vice-chairperson Teresa Kok (Seputeh), national adviser Tan Kok Wai (Cheras), and treasurer-general Fong Kui Lun (Bukit Bintang).

Meanwhile, Chong expressed disappointment that no central DAP leader had spoken out against the lawmakers, which suggested tacit approval.

Don’t be surprised if there’s backlash

The Federal Territories MCA Youth chief then reminded DAP that it received BN’s help in several by-elections in order to strengthen the federal coalition government.

“BN is only asking for five out of the 13 parliamentary seats in the Federal Territories. 

“If DAP remains arrogant, then don’t be surprised if BN considers contesting all 13 seats in the Federal Territories in the 16th general election,” he said.

The parliamentary seats in the Federal Territories are Kepong, Segambut, Bukit Bintang, Seputeh, Cheras, Batu, Wangsa Maju, Setiawangsa, Bandar Tun Razak, Lembah Pantai, Titiwangsa, Putrajaya, and Labuan.

Of these, five are held by DAP (Kepong, Segambut, Bukit Bintang, Seputeh, and Cheras), while another five are held by PKR (Batu, Wangsa Maju, Setiawangsa, Bandar Tun Razak, and Lembah Pantai).

The remaining seats are divided between BN (Titiwangsa), an independent MP previously with Bersatu (Labuan), and PN (Putrajaya).

In the 15th general election about two years ago, MCA (representing BN) fielded candidates in Batu, Segambut, Bukit Bintang, Seputeh, Cheras, and Bandar Tun Razak. 

Of these six seats, MCA faced DAP in all areas except Batu and Bandar Tun Razak. The BN component party was wiped out in the contests.

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