Move over, Tanjung Piai Umno tells MCA

Umno’s Tanjung Piai division is insisting that Barisan Nasional (BN) break from tradition and field a candidate from Umno instead of MCA in the by-election triggered by the death of PPBM’s Md Farid Md Rafik.

(FMT) – “MCA had the seat for too long and Tanjung Piai is a Malay-majority area,” said the division’s chief, Jefridin Atan.

He told FMT 88 branch leaders in the division passed a resolution at a meeting last Saturday demanding that BN choose a candidate from Umno.

He also said his division had prepared a list of names chosen from its ranks to help Johor Umno decide whom to choose as the candidate. His name is on the list.

“I was given the mandate by the branch members to be listed as a potential candidate,” he said.

Farid died on Sept 21 after suffering a heart attack. He was a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.

Tanjung Piai, a parliamentary constituency, used to be a battleground for MCA and DAP, but DAP made way for PPBM in the last general election.

Farid won the seat with a majority of 524 votes. The incumbent, MCA’s Wee Jeck Seng, garnered 20,731 votes and PAS’ Nordin Othman got 2,962.

Jefridin said MCA’s loss in the general election made it appropriate for Umno to contest in the by-election, the date for which has yet to be decided.

He claimed that the people of Tanjung Piai preferred a Malay candidate and said he was confident Umno would win the seat now that it had formalised a pact with PAS.

He said his division would advise Johor Umno to tell the party’s national leadership that BN needs a Malay candidate for Tanjung Piai.

The Umno Supreme Council will meet this Thursday. “I hope this matter will be discussed,” Jefridin said.