Reports by RSN MURALI, RAHIMY RAHIM, ALLISON LAI, TARRENCE TAN, DIYANA PFORDTEN, SARBAN SINGH and JUNAID IBRAHIM

       MELAKA: The MCA will discuss its choice for the state executive councillor’s post in the new Melaka government, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.The party president said it was still early as Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali had just been sworn in as chief minister in a ceremony early yesterday which he was also invited to witness.

       “It is a great endorsement and bigger mandate for him, so let him decide on his team of state leaders. He has said earlier that he wanted to see diversity in the state administration structure.

       “Let’s give him some time and I’m sure his aspirations are also what we have been hoping for in the state government line-up,” he told a press conference here.

       Also present were party vice-president Datuk Tan Teik Cheng, secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon and the MCA’s two victorious candidates in the Melaka polls, Datuk Lim Ban Hong and Ngwe Hee Sem, who won the Kelebang and Machap Jaya seats respectively.

       Compared to GE14 when MCA lost all seats it contested in the state, Dr Wee said the party was grateful to the people for their support and pledged to deliver on its election promises.

       “It was amazing that we managed to improve our performance and did better than the last general election. Not only do we have two representatives from MCA in the state now, MIC also has one.

       “The elected representatives will make use of the platform in the state government to improve on its service delivery to the people,” he said.

       Dr Wee, who is the Transport Minister, said the mandate was a great boost to the party and urged those elected to start working and delivering.

       “They should not forget their initial intention of contesting, and must start delivering what they pledged in the manifesto.

       “I have faith in their capabilities and they will certainly deliver,” he said, adding that MCA would give its full support to both state assemblymen in their efforts to serve the people.

       Dr Wee also congratulated Sulaiman on his appointment as the 13th Melaka Chief Minister in a Facebook post yesterday.