No show for '1Malaysia NGO' in Tenang
Kuek Ser Kuang KengPublished: Jan 6, 2011 1:18 PM | Updated: Jan 6, 2011 3:02 PM
Despite a successful campaign in Galas last November, the so-called 1Malaysia NGO will not make an appearance during the Tenang by-election.
BN's special weapon in the Galas by-election is not likely to be deployed in Tenang, where MCA is to take the lead.
Despite a successful campaign in Galas last November, the so-called 1Malaysia NGO will not make an appearance during the Tenang by-election.
"We are not going to Tenang. I have so far not received any invitation from anyone asking us to go there," 1Malaysia NGO coordinator Sia Teck Keong said when contacted.
During the Galas by-election campaign, BN's Chinese-based component parties MCA and Gerakan took the back seat while the 1Malaysia NGO organised several prominent functions.
The group targeted the sizeable Chinese community in the constituency and was accused of handing out expensive goodie bags and treating voters to sumptuous dinners.
Some people who took part in the group's events said they were paid RM100 to join a procession, but the group's leaders have denied it.
The opposition has conceded that the various activities organised by the group had contributed to a marginal swing towards BN by the Chinese community.
BN eventually wrested the seat from PAS with a majority of 1,190 votes.
Local sponsorship
Sia said his group showed up during the Galas by-election campaign because they were invited by locals to organise several activities.
"We are an ad hoc organisation. We disbanded after the by-election. After that, I went back to focus on my business," he said.
On why the group was not invited to Tenang, Sia speculated that it could have been due to the controversy caused during the Galas by-election.
"We have no political inclinations... but some people said we were campaigning for BN (in Galas)," he said.
Sia (centre, in picture on right), who is the Selangor MCA Youth deputy organising secretary, said the 1Malaysia NGO is an independent organisation that supports the spirit of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 1Malaysia campaign and not any political party.
On the group's sponsors, he said the 1Malaysia NGO was fully funded by businessmen and traders.
"I myself do not know who the sponsors are. It was handled by the locals," he said.
MCA's time to shine?
There is speculation that the 1Malaysia NGO will not be deployed during the Tenang by-election campaign because the seat falls under the Labis parliamentary constituency, which is supposed to be an MCA stronghold.
The Labis seat is currently held by Chua Tee Yong, the son of the previous MP and current MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Chinese voters make up about 38 percent of the electorate and this will be MCA's biggest test since the 2008 general election.
In 2008, MCA lost most of its seats at the state and parliamentary levels, but managed to maintain most of its seats in Johor.
Nomination day for the Tenang by-election is Jan 22, with Jan 30 fixed as the polling day.
"We are not going to Tenang. I have so far not received any invitation from anyone asking us to go there," 1Malaysia NGO coordinator Sia Teck Keong said when contacted.
During the Galas by-election campaign, BN's Chinese-based component parties MCA and Gerakan took the back seat while the 1Malaysia NGO organised several prominent functions. The group targeted the sizeable Chinese community in the constituency and was accused of handing out expensive goodie bags and treating voters to sumptuous dinners.
Some people who took part in the group's events said they were paid RM100 to join a procession, but the group's leaders have denied it.
The opposition has conceded that the various activities organised by the group had contributed to a marginal swing towards BN by the Chinese community.
BN eventually wrested the seat from PAS with a majority of 1,190 votes.
Local sponsorship
Sia said his group showed up during the Galas by-election campaign because they were invited by locals to organise several activities.
"We are an ad hoc organisation. We disbanded after the by-election. After that, I went back to focus on my business," he said.
On why the group was not invited to Tenang, Sia speculated that it could have been due to the controversy caused during the Galas by-election.
"We have no political inclinations... but some people said we were campaigning for BN (in Galas)," he said.
Sia (centre, in picture on right), who is the Selangor MCA Youth deputy organising secretary, said the 1Malaysia NGO is an independent organisation that supports the spirit of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 1Malaysia campaign and not any political party. On the group's sponsors, he said the 1Malaysia NGO was fully funded by businessmen and traders.
"I myself do not know who the sponsors are. It was handled by the locals," he said.
MCA's time to shine?
There is speculation that the 1Malaysia NGO will not be deployed during the Tenang by-election campaign because the seat falls under the Labis parliamentary constituency, which is supposed to be an MCA stronghold.
The Labis seat is currently held by Chua Tee Yong, the son of the previous MP and current MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek.
Chinese voters make up about 38 percent of the electorate and this will be MCA's biggest test since the 2008 general election.
In 2008, MCA lost most of its seats at the state and parliamentary levels, but managed to maintain most of its seats in Johor.
Nomination day for the Tenang by-election is Jan 22, with Jan 30 fixed as the polling day.
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