On paper, Bandar Tun Razak - Kuala Lumpur's southernmost constituency - represents MCA's best chance of finally making a comeback in the national capital since 2008.

Albeit a losing effort, MCA's little-known Tan Kok Eng polled more votes in Bandar Tun Razak than his three other Kuala Lumpur MCA colleagues in Seputeh, Bukit Bintang and Cheras combined during the 2013 elections.

But for the local Umno chapter, MCA's past performance doesn't automatically qualify them to run again.

In a recent interview with Malaysiakini, Bandar Tun Razak Umno chief Rizalman Mokhtar said the reason for this is simple: Bandar Tun Razak is a Malay-majority constituency and Malays would prefer to back a Malay candidate.

The main opposition parties seem to have embraced this logic since 1999 and have fielded a Malay candidate every time against an MCA candidate.

"This is because of the local sentiment, the locals want a Malay candidate to stand in a Malay-majority seat. Umno has a better chance compared to MCA.

"We have given the seat to MCA in the past five general elections. It has lost in the two most recent battles," he said...