KUALA LUMPUR: MCA may contest in additional seats besides its traditional seats in the next general election, says Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

       He said voter support had returned to MCA as seen in the recent Melaka state election where the party’s Ngwe Hee Sem and Datuk Lim Ban Hong won in Machap Jaya and Kelebang, respectively.

       He also cited Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng’s victory in the Tanjung Piai by-election in 2019.

       “Traditional MCA seats will be given to MCA.

       “We will not kacau (interfere) in MCA or MIC seats. There may even be additional seats for ‘friends of Barisan’,” he said at the 68th MCA annual general meeting at Wisma MCA here yesterday.

       Ahmad Zahid said MCA’s loyalty to the coalition had been challenged time and time again, starting from the 12th General Election when the party obtained 15 parliamentary seats but was then reduced to seven seats in the 13th General Election.

       It worsened in the 14th General Election when MCA managed to only win one parliamentary seat and two state seats with slim majorities, he added.

       “MCA’s loyalty was tested when other component parties decided to leave Barisan.

       “Luckily, during the 65th MCA annual general meeting, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong was elected as party president and he led its central committee to come to a decision to remain in the coalition,” he said.

       Ahmad Zahid said MCA should not feel threatened by DAP but it should be the other way round as the latter showed that it could not win the multiracial rakyat’s hearts in the 22 months it was in government as part of the Pakatan Harapan administration.

       He reminded MCA to work not only for votes but for the interest of the Chinese community and the people.

       “The party needs to increase engagement with youths in line with the implementation of Undi18 (which lowers the voting age to 18).

       “Younger voters from Generation Z have a different mindset and are exposed to much more information compared to the previous generations,” he said.