MELAKA: Discussions on seat distributions among Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties should be done internally and not announced through the media.
MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said although detailed discussions among BN component parties were carried out during the BN supreme council meeting, he was not at liberty to comment.
“Whatever BN seat exchanges must be discussed internally and not through the newspaper (publication). That is our position. All component leaders have agreed that in supreme council, we will have a detailed discussion,” he told a press conference after opening the MCA Melaka State Convention at State MCA office in Hang Tuah here today.
Also present were MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, MCA Youth chief Datuk Chong Sin Woon and MCA vice-president Datuk Chua Tee Yong.
He however added that there were no problems in terms of seat allocations within the BN component parties and it had been finalised.
“We do not have much issues with seat allocation because it has been allocated over the years. It is not only now that we are allocated with seats.
"But in terms of winning the election, there are some minor changes here and there and we have to discuss this at the highest level,” he said.
He said that in the opposition there was a lot of infighting regarding seat allocation in Pakatan Harapan.
“But in BN, we have already finalised (seat allocations) and what’s left is just some adjustments here and there."
Liow said this when asked to comment on BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s address at the closed-door pre-election meeting on Saturday that BN component parties may not maintain the status quo on seat allocations in the coming polls.
“Whatever seat allocated to us, we will discuss the chances of winning in every seat because we have to field candidates who are popular among rakyat and not just a party candidate,” he said.
He also slammed the Opposition which has not been able to produce results although getting Chinese votes, especially in Penang and Selangor.
“After winning in 38 parliamentary seats and 95 state seats, they (Opposition) are still unable to produce results," he said.
“For example in Penang, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has failed to fulfill 51 promises he made to the people since 2008. The Penang government is unable to solve core issues such as are traffic congestion, flood, and even landslides, but instead blames the federal government. What happened to the 51 promises? Lim can’t answer,” he said.
“The Opposition are opportunists and they are playing politics. They are using populist approach to garner as much votes as possible and trying to use emotion to get votes.
“But they do not have development agenda for the nation. So it will be a risky and dangerous future for the country if ruled by Pakatan Harapan. They don't have a single agenda for the rakyat,” he said.
Liow said it was BN that has delivered such as the modernisation of the ‘infra-rakyat’ projects (people’s infrastructure projects) which has brought great economic impact.
He cited Melaka as an example where ports in Melaka were being developed to be a gateway complementing Port Klang to be a logistic hub.
Liow also said that tenders were being finalised to expand and upgrade the Melaka Batu Berendam International Airport to allow fully loaded 737 aircraft to land.
This, Liow said, would allow Melaka to be an important link with China through the opening of new air routes as part of the One Belt and One Road Initiative.