Eleventh-hour boost for MCA: Perikatan returns Kota Laksamana, bringing Melaka tally to four

MELAKA, Oct 30 — MCA has announced that it will contest one more state seat in the 16th Melaka state election, after Kota Laksamana was returned to Barisan Nasional (BN) by Perikatan Nasional (PN).

MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said Melvin Chua will be fielded as the candidate, following discussions between BN and PN after the latter indicated that MCA is better suited to contest the seat.

“This decision was only made and agreed upon today by the party’s top leadership, following the decision to return the seat to an MCA candidate representing BN in the Kota Laksamana state constituency, after taking into consideration his suitability based on his involvement and services in the area,” he told a press conference during a visit to the Bandar Hilir MCA operations room in Melaka Raya here today.

Wee said Melvin is a familiar figure among the local community, particularly through his involvement in community activities and his service in the Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB) administrative area.

The addition of Kota Laksamana means MCA will contest four seats, including Machap Jaya, Kelebang and Bandar Hilir.

Wee said the latest development would not affect MCA’s preparations, despite the decision being made at the last minute, as the party had long been prepared, particularly in the traditional constituencies it was contesting.

He said MCA, as BN’s component party, is ready to face any challenge and has no problem fielding candidates in seats where it is required to contest.

“We have never shied away from our responsibilities. We have no problem contesting any seat and we are ready to face any situation.

“MCA will continue striving to gain the people’s support and put up a fight in the constituencies it contests, including seats considered difficult to win in the Melaka state polls,” he said.

The Election Commission has fixed tomorrow as nomination day for the Melaka state election, with polling set for November 14 and early voting on November 10. — Bernama

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马六甲，10 月 30 日 — 马华宣布，继国盟（国盟）将哥打拉克萨马纳（Kota Laksamana）交回国阵（国阵）后，它将在第十六届马六甲州选举中再竞选一个州议席。

马华公会主席拿督斯里魏家祥表示，在国阵和国民联盟进行讨论后，国民联盟表示马华公会更适合竞选该席位，因此国阵和国民联盟将推举​​蔡文文为候选人。

“这一决定是今天由党的最高领导层做出并达成一致的，此前，他们已决定将该席位交还给代表国阵在哥打拉沙马那州选区的马华候选人，并考虑到他在该地区的参与和服务，认为他适合担任此职。”他今天在马六甲拉也的班达尔希利马华行动室视察时召开的新闻发布会上说道。

Wee表示，Melvin是当地社区的熟面孔，尤其因为他积极参与社区活动，并在马六甲历史城区议会（MBMB）行政区服务。

Kota Laksamana 的加入意味着马华将争夺四个议席，包括马查再也 (Machap Jaya)、吉里邦 (Kelebang) 和希里尔镇 (Bandar Hilir)。

魏家祥表示，尽管这一决定是在最后一刻做出的，但最新的事态发展不会影响马华公会的准备工作，因为该党早已做好了准备，尤其是在其参选的传统选区。

他表示，马华公会作为国阵的成员党，已做好迎接任何挑战的准备，并且在需要参选的选区推出候选人没有任何问题。

“我们从未逃避过自己的责任。我们竞选任何席位都没有问题，我们也准备好面对任何情况。”

他说：“马华公会将继续努力争取人民的支持，并在其参选的选区中奋力拼搏，包括在马六甲州选举中被认为难以赢得的席位。”

马新社报道，选举委员会已确定明日为马六甲州选举的提名日，正式投票将于11月14日举行，提前投票则于11月10日进行。

哈立德表示，沙巴的国防升级并非对菲律宾军事集结的回应。

人越多越好？州希望联盟主席表示，马六甲州竞争激烈的选举可能对联盟有利。

财政部从未下令取消农村道路建设项目，只是推迟了新合同的签订，滕库·扎夫鲁尔说道。