Statement：The political discussion on ‘National Current Issues’ had been successfully organised by NGO Next Gen Link together with co-organiser MCA Subang Maju Branch

The political discussion on ‘National Current Issues’ had been successfully organised by NGO Next Gen Link together with co-organiser MCA Subang Maju Branch on yesterday. The discussion was initiated by Lawyer Maxine Khoo being the Vice Chairman of Maju Branch in Subang Jaya with the presence of Mr Isham Jalil, UMNO Supreme Council member,  MCA Selangor State Liaison Committee Chairman Dato Ng Chok Sin together with YB Senator Dato Arman Azha Bin Abu Hanifah, who is also the UMNO Subang Division Chief.

Mr Isham Jalil pointed out in the discussion that GE 15 should be held immediately in order to return the mandate to the people. He emphasized that Barisan Nasional must win enough seats to be able to form federal government on its own. When being asked on whether the newly-minted political party such as MUDA would be able to affect the results of Selangor state GE 15’ s results, Isham answered that the results of State Election in Melaka and Johor had clearly show that MUDA has yet to have the ability to affect the young voters in Malaysia. He added, vice versa young voters voted for BN, and there is trend of voting among young voters swinging back to BN.

Isham also pointed out that in GE 15, whether the Selangor State government can be  wrested back depends on several factors, one of it is the political coldness shown by the people towards politics, as on last elections most of the voters cast their votes for PH, with the hope that change can be brought to the country but finally the promises in the PH manifesto were not fulfilled, thus making people to lose faith in politics and having political coldness towards politics. Apart from that, it is also uncertain whether the people who are having political coldness would still vote in the upcoming GE15.

Isham when being asked on the concept of ‘big tent’ propounded by opposition, Isham said that the division of seats would be a major issue for opposition and this would not culminate in the cooperation between parties under’ big tent’, even before GE15. Isham gave an example of PKR refusing to give seat to MUDA on the reason that MUDA was unable to attract young voters in the Johor state election. Isham reiterated that the reason young voters refused to vote for PH during last Johor state election was due to PH’s inability to fulfil promises made by them in the manifesto. He added that the Puteri Wangsa seat won by MUDA in Johor state election was not due to young voters, but actually was due to support of existing DAP supporters. Isham even predicted that the current scenario would be that political parties would have the tendency towards post election collaboration.

When being asked on Sarawak political scenario, Isham explained that GPS position is clear that they would work with whichever party who is able to form the federal government. He said this is a smart move from GPS and they are in the position of being the ‘king-maker’, as during PH era GPS were in the government and still in the government even today after PH has toppled. So in such a ‘win-win’ situation for them, GPS would not work with any party or coalition prior to election. Additionally, BN has got no base in Sarawak, and the political atmosphere in Sarawak is also different compared to West Malaysia. Isham also mentioned that allowing Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) to join BN will complicated the whole scenario, this is due to the fact that one of the party members Datuk Larry Sng is Julau MP, which is a parliamentary seat in Sarawak. Allowing PBM to join BN will definitely affect the relationship between GPS and BN.

Apart from Isham, Lawyer Maxine Khoo was also being asked on what type of candidate MCA should send to contest in Subang Jaya DUN seat. Lawyer Maxine pointed out that MCA should scrutinize the background of the candidate. An example would be the current Subang Jaya Aseemblywoman Michelle Ng who is a lawyer and won the seat in GE 14 at the age of 28 years old. Before that, YB Hannah Yeoh contested the seat at the age of 29 years and won it, and she is also a lawyer. Based on the criteria of candidates fielded in Subang Jaya and they managed to win the seat, it is quite clear that the preferred candidate for Subang Jaya people would be young professionals.

YB Senator Dato Arman Azha when being asked on the similar issue, pointed out that the Malaysian political scene had changed and the candidate must be based on the requirement of Subang Jaya, and that the candidate ought to be dynamic and progressive, and has to possess political acumen, and at the same time needs to understand the needs of Subang Jaya people and dare to accept challenges.  

Thank you.

MCA Subang Maju Branch Secretariat

19.09.2022