BALAKONG POLLS | DAP national chairperson Tan Kok Wai today challenged MCA to leave the BN if it loses in the Balakong state by-election on Sept 8.

He said the DAP would consider accepting MCA if it wanted to join Pakatan Harapan in the future.

“They should join us in Harapan if they lose in the by-election, if they agree with the Harapan principles and want to join us.

“We will consider accepting MCA as a component party on condition they quit BN first,” he told reporters after a walkabout with Harapan candidate Wong Siew Ki here today.

On Thursday, MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan was quoted by the media as saying the outcome of the Balakong by-election would determine MCA’s future in BN.

MCA vice-president Chew Mei Fun, who is director of the MCA's by-election campaign, had admitted that it was difficult to wrest the seat from Harapan. 

Tan said MCA’s decision to use its own logo in the Balakong by-election was a clear indication that it was no longer in sync with BN.

“They once said that they would leave BN if Umno collaborated with PAS. Now, that is clear, so why are they keeping quiet?

“MCA also invited other opposition parties to work with it in the by-election campaign here and in Seri Setia. Which other party is it if not PAS? It has deviated, as did BN component party Umno when it allowed the Act 355 to be tabled in Parliament under the BN government,” he said.

'Any race-based party will cause disunity'

Tan, who is the Cheras MP, said any party based on race and religion cannot exist in this country as it could cause disunity.

"Malaysia is a multiracial country. If race-based parties continue to exist, they could affect the harmony and unity among the people as they are only looking out for themselves,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Harapan candidate for Balakong, Wong Siew Ki, expects more than 60 percent of the voters to go to the polls on Sept 8.

“Although we are expecting 60 percent, the election machinery is targeting to get at least 80 percent because we are working very hard to coax them to vote. The response is very encouraging,” he said.

The Balakong by-election, which is being held following the death of its assemblyman Eddie Ng in a road accident on July 20. Wong is going up against MCA's Tan Chee Teong.

In the 14th general election, Ng defeated Barisan Nasional candidate Lim Chin Wah and Mohamad Ibrahim Ghazali of PAS by a majority of 35,538 votes.

- Bernama