AYER HITAM: Preparations will be key for Barisan Nasional to ensure victory in the 15th General Election (GE15), which may be called sooner rather than later, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

       “I urge all members to get ready to face GE15 as we have entered the fifth year. It is unlikely that it will be far off from the date of expiry. Even though we do not know the exact date yet, preparations would be key,” he said.

       GE15 could be called at any time since the current term is entering its fifth year, he said after officiating the Ayer Hitam MCA division’s meeting held at Yong Peng here on Thursday night.Dr Wee, who is Ayer Hitam MP, said Barisan’s landslide victory in the Johor election in March was due to the efforts of component parties that had worked tirelessly, leading to the coalition’s candidates winning 40 out of the 56 state seats.

       He added that the sweetest victory recorded by Barisan in the Johor polls would be the Yong Peng seat, which was won by Ling Tian Soon.

       “Many expected us not to win the seat as Ling lost with more than a 5,000-vote majority in the last election.

       “But we never gave up. And we doubled our efforts to be close with the people, resulting in support from them to win back not just Yong Peng but also other seats such as Bekok, Paloh and Pekan Nanas.

       “It is a clear message that we need to work hard to win any election,” he said.

       Dr Wee expressed hope that such cooperation among Barisan component parties and its partners would continue in GE15.

       “That is why I made an appeal that the discussion should not only involve Umno’s top five leaders but Barisan component parties as well, which would ensure each party is well prepared for GE15,” he added.

       He also welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s commitment at the Barisan convention on Wednesday that component parties would be included in the discussion on when the election would be called.