PASIR GUDANG: MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has dismissed claims that non-Malay voter support for the Barisan Nasional (BN) component party remains poor.
He said this could be evidenced by its performance in the Johor state election in March, where the party wrested back four state seats from its political nemesis, DAP.
He said MCA's victory showed backing from various quarters and urged all parties to maintain the momentum and not have differences with each other.
The Ayer Hitam member of parliament said MCA had done its best in the Johor state election last March when it wrested four State Legislative Assembly seats from the DAP.
"We (MCA) have done our best, we have tried and we did. We did what we could in the Johor election.
"Who would have thought that in the Yong Peng area under the Ayer Hitam parliamentary constituency with 58 per cent Chinese voters, we could win?
"Previously, we lost by 5,089 votes and we won (by) 2,741 votes (in the Johor election). When the percentage of the Chinese population is 58 per cent Chinese, seven per cent Indian and 35 per cent Malay, we not only overturned the deficit but we also increased the majority.
"This shows support from various parties. And we see that there is still room that we can correct, that's why we are trying.
"There is no point in winning and cheering. Just do the work and our focus is more on the work.
"I don't want to comment on what people say. If we ourselves find there is a mistake, we fix it. If there is no mistake, we move on, work hard and do our best. The important thing is that we have implemented it," he said.
Wee who is the transport minister, told this to reporters at a press conference after launching the Johor Port Authority's Keluarga Malaysia Cares CSR programme here today.
He was to responding to Johor Umno liaison deputy chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed's remarks. Nur Jazlan had said that since the 13th General Election the strength and support for MCA and MIC had gradually declined.
The former Pulai member of parliament said the Melaka and Johor state elections also showed that the support of non-Malay voters for the two parties was very little.
In the Johor state polls, the BN won 40 seats, four of which were won by MCA candidates at Bekok, Yong Peng, Paloh and Pekan Nanas.
Wee added that with MCA doing poorly in previous polls, no one expected it to put in a good performance in the Johor state election.
"We used to lose badly. But thanks to the support we have done well. During the Melaka state election, there was Undi18, but in Johor there was Undi18.
"So, I think the state election showed one thing - a possibility that people had thought was impossible before.
"Let us maintain this momentum for the best. Let's not argue with each other. We care more about the spirit or bond of brotherhood among us.
"Whoever has an opinion, I think we will listen. But we will do our best to ensure an absolute victory for BN," he said.