MCA Protests Melaka Seat Deal, Then Wins Third Seat

MCA left a Barisan Nasional candidate announcement at the Melaka International Trade Centre on 24 October, saying its president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong described the move as a protest rather than a boycott. MCA leaders had been told the event was meant to launch campaign machinery, not announce candidates.

Wee claimed seats previously contested by MCA were reallocated without proper negotiation, and the party submitted a written objection after internal discussions. He stressed that party dignity must be upheld, especially when long-standing allies were allegedly sidelined for new political cooperation.

“Party dignity must be upheld, especially when the interests of long-time allies are allegedly sidelined for new political cooperation.”

Initially allocated only two seats compared with the seven it contested in the 2021 Melaka state election, MCA later won an additional seat, Bandar Hilir, after further BN-Perikatan Nasional negotiations on 29 October. This brought its total to three seats.

MCA won Klebang and Machap Jaya in 2021, a record the party says reflects local political investment rather than permanent ownership of constituencies. Former Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Dr Ong Kian Ming said the dispute need not derail BN-PN cooperation because MCA also relies on Malay voter support that Umno and PAS can help provide.

The outlet Harapan Daily cited a Channel NewsAsia analysis warning that seat-sharing tensions raise questions about the durability of the BN-PN alliance ahead of the 16th general election. MCA has not provided the specific regulation or constitutional clause it says was violated.