Will MCA back PN again if GE16 yields no winner, asks Liew

PETALING JAYA: DAP strategic director Liew Chin Tong has asked MCA whether it will back Perikatan Nasional (PN) if the 16th general election (GE16) results in a hung Parliament, as was the case in 2022.

Liew said MCA president Wee Ka Siong signed a statutory declaration to support then PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin in forming the government after the 2022 general election (GE15).

He also said that Wee had been a strong proponent of Barisan Nasional (BN) going solo in GE16, which would set up potential three-cornered clashes with PN and current ally Pakatan Harapan (PH).

“This is because he believes a three-way contest would allow MCA to contest more seats, not just be confined to its two incumbent seats.

“Since this MCA president has chosen to bring up this issue, and given that he is one of the strongest proponents of a three-cornered fight, he has to make clear whether he will support the now PAS-led PN in forming the government should the political situation of 2022 recur.

“At least by being honest, voters can know what MCA stands for,” the Iskandar Puteri MP said in a Facebook post.

Liew was responding to a media report quoting Wee as defending MCA’s decision to back PN after GE15, which ended with no single party having a simple majority to form the government.

Wee, a former minister, said he signed the declaration because of the “chaotic” political situation at the time, and due to Umno’s initial stand against working with PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim or DAP.

GE15 ended with PH winning 82 seats, followed by PN (74), BN (30), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (23) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (six). A simple majority of 112 seats is needed to form the government.

MCA won two seats, including Ayer Hitam which Wee is representing for a fifth term now.

Despite the declarations signed by MCA as well as several other BN MPs, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi decided that the coalition would back Anwar in forming the unity government, along with GPS and GRS.

المصدر: Free Malaysia Today