BALAKONG POLLS | Wanita MCA vice-chairperson Ong Chong Swen says weak opposition is the reason why the Pakatan Harapan government is able to break its promises and embark on yet another "detested" national car plan.

In a statement, the senator said that since coming into power after the May 9 polls, the Harapan administration has failed to make good on many of its election promises, such as the recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).

"On the contrary, it uses the excuse of a purported staggering national debt to break its election promises, including a five-year study on the UEC.

"Ironically, it is preparing to roll out a third national car by 2020! Why prioritise a third national car when the country is deep in debt?" she asked in a statement today in support for MCA's Balakong by-election candidate Tan Chee Teong.

"Ever wonder why a government can break its promises and embark instead on a... national car plan that is detested by the people?

"Because there is no strong opposition to play the effective role of checks and balances in the government."

Putrajaya's announcement that it would proceed with the third national car mooted by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was lambasted by critics, who felt that the project deviated from Harapan's election pledges and would be an unwise use of national funds.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng told Dewan Rakyat earlier this month that the project, to be launched by the year 2020, would not utilise public funds, and that it would be privately funded.

This prompted MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong to urge the government to guarantee that the new carmaker would not be "bailed out" the way Proton was in the past.

Great disparity

Citing the Selangor Legislative Assembly, Ong said the disparity between opposition representation and that of the ruling state government was too great. 

Selangor is currently administered by Harapan, which dominates the state assembly with 51 seats – PKR with 28, DAP with 13, and five each for Bersatu and Amanah.

BN, meanwhile, has just four seats in the assembley and PAS one. Two seats, including Balakong, are currently vacated due to the deaths of their incumbents.

"When the ruling party is too strong and the opposition is too weak, it is unfavourable for the mutual supervision in the Selangor Legislative Assembly," she said.

Ong added that a win for DAP's candidate Wong Siew Ki in the Balakong polls would merely be "icing on the cake" for Harapan, and would have no tangible effect on the governance of the state.

A win for MCA's Tan, on the other hand, would mean an extra representative in the assembly, and "the starting point for a democratic two-party system."

The Balakong seat fell vacant upon the death on Harapan assemblyperson Eddie Ng Tien Chee in a road accident in July.

The by-election will take place on Sept 8, on the same day as the Seri Setia state polls.