YONG PENG: Gaining more Chinese votes in the 15th General Election (GE15) is an important task for MCA, says its president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
Other than meeting voters in the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat where he is contesting in, Dr Wee said he would be taking trips to other parliamentary seats nationwide to support MCA candidates and canvass votes.
ALSO READ: GE15: MCA to contest all traditional Johor seats, says Dr Wee
“Earlier, I met with Malay and Indian voters who expressed their support for me and I also hope to gain more Chinese support, as that will be the biggest boost for us.
“Malaysia is a multi-racial country and having an all-rounded support is crucial,” he said when addressing an audience of 300 people at a dinner event organised by the Yong Peng Vegetable Farmers’ Association here on Friday (Nov 4).
ALSO READ: MCA fielding many new faces
Dr Wee, who is the four-term incumbent Ayer Hitam MP, added that although he is expected to face two Malay opponents in GE15, he would continue to work hard for the voters’ support.
He also thanked the locals for their strong support since he first became Ayer Hitam MP about 18 years ago.
Dr Wee is expected to face Johor DAP vice-chairman and former Paloh assemblyman Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali and Perikatan Nasional’s Muhammad Syafiq A. Aziz in the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat.
Meanwhile, the association’s chairman Cheng Tai Hoe said the farmers here are banking on a strong parliamentarian to help push their agricultural products into the competitive international market and boost the local economy.
He said the agricultural sector, especially durian farmers, is facing tough competition globally as more countries are growing the king of fruits including Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines and some African countries.
“We want to send a good Chinese minister to represent our voice in Parliament.
“This will help the local farmers as we want good policy-making leaders and not those who make statements that are not beneficial to the country like a certain politician who recently spoke against Malaysians working in Singapore.
“Malaysia’s durian farmers stand to lose out if wrong leaders are voted in, as Cambodia is already planning to export 500 tonnes to China from the 50 tonnes they did this year,” he added.