SG KANDIS POLLS | DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang today questioned whether the leaders of BN component parties MCA and MIC were in full support of Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam's candidacy in the by-election.

The MCA and MIC leadership should also declare whether they regard Lokman as "the model Umno leader" to represent BN after the 14th general election, Lim said in a statement today.

"Why are the MCA and MIC leaders keeping a deafening silence on Lokman’s candidacy in Sungai Kandis?" asked Lim, who also took a swipe at MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong for his silence the candidacy as well.

Lim also said this came despite Lokman's insistence that he was not a racist, but rather a watchdog for constitutional matters.

He said MCA and MIC leadership should declare whether they approve and support of Umno's purported co-operation with PAS in the Sungai Kandis by-election campaign.

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hassan said that while MCA leaders were not present during the nomination day for the Sungai Kandis by-election, the party would still be involved in the campaign process.

The Aug 4 by-election sees a three-cornered fight among Lokman, PKR's Zawawi Ahmad Mughni and independent candidate K Murthy. PAS is sitting out of this by-election.

Yesterday, Lokman said he believes he can wrest the Sungai Kandis state seat from PKR with help from PAS leaders campaigning for him.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan had refused to overtly endorse any one candidate but called on party members in Sungai Kandis to choose "Malay and Islam" and emphasised the importance of a strong opposition in Selangor.