KUALA LUMPUR — MCA is to use its own logo in the upcoming Balakong state by-election, for the first time in the history of the Alliance and Barisan Nasional (BN) coalitions that dates back to 1952.
The party’s Central Committee made the decision at a meeting today, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (pic) said, adding that this had the support of the grassroots members and was in line with the party’s objective to reform and reinvent itself in the new political landscape.
“We have decided to use our own logo in the by-election. MCA will take a whole new political stand to face the voters and completely discard its old political baggage to walk our own path,” he told reporters after the meeting at Wisma MCA here.
He said MCA had also received permission from the Election Commission to use its own logo in the by-election.
Nomination for the Balakong by-election is on Aug 18 and polling on Sept 8.
Liow, however, dismissed any assumption that MCA was distancing itself from the BN or leaving the coalition, saying that the BN component parties should now be working to reform and strengthen themselves internally.
“We are (one of) the founders; we are not leaving anybody,” he said. The MCA, along with UMNO and MIC, founded the Alliance in 1952. The Alliance morphed into the BN in 1973, taking on more component parties.
Liow said he would inform BN chairman and UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on the MCA decision soon.
He said the meeting also appointed party vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun as the by-election director.
The by-election is being held following the death of the Pakatan Harapan assemblyman, Eddie Ng Tien Chee of DAP, in a traffic accident on July 20. He had won the seat with a majority 35,538 votes in a three-cornered contest in the May 9 general election.
— BERNAMA
