JOHOR BARU: Preparations for the Johor state election and even the 15th General Election (GE15) have been ongoing for a while now, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

       “MCA is prepared to face any challenges, whether it is GE15 or a state election in any states, including Johor.

       “As a party, we need to be prepared. We have also set up a committee for GE15 preparations. Hence, we have started work to strengthen our election machinery for voting districts,” he said after attending a road safety campaign at Dewan Muafakat Ayer Hitam here.

       Pontian MCA division chief Datuk Tee Siew Kiong also said they had been working all along for the election.

       “Doing their job from the start is considered ‘preparing for the election’. The rakyat can distinguish between those who are really working and those who are just acting,” said the Johor Mentri Besar’s special adviser.

       He said the people should not vote for those who only work during the election season.

       “Choosing a wrong government will only result in suffering for the rakyat,” he said after meeting the Pontian MCA division.

       Johor Umno treasurer Datuk Md Jais Sarday, meanwhile, said all Barisan Nasional parties need to be united and work together if they are to win big in the upcoming state election.

       He said it is important to field “winnable candidates” in all 56 constituencies.

       “If any party, including Umno, has a problem in a certain constituency, we should be willing to make way for other component parties or even field a candidate who is Barisan-friendly, including a professional or even from a local NGO,” he said.

       Md Jais said some current Umno assemblymen had already indicated their willingness to give way to new faces.

       It is learnt that several Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia assemblymen have also indicated their interest in rejoining Umno.

       Asked if he will be contesting in the election, Md Jais said he would leave it to the party to decide.

       State MIC chief R. Vidyananthan also said the party was upbeat about the state polls.

       “We have activated our machinery and will do our best to ensure all Barisan candidates win big,” he added.

       MIC is hoping to contest five seats, one more than its usual four.

       In GE14, Umno contested 35 state seats, while MCA took on 15, MIC (four) and Gerakan (two). However, Gerakan has since left Barisan.

       In the outgoing state assembly, Umno had 14 seats while MIC had two.