MCA did not nominate its former president Ong Tee Keat as its candidate for the Pandan parliamentary seat in Selangor, despite that he is considered a favourite to defend the seat.

Breaking his silence over the long-standing poser, MCA president Chua Soi Lek told reporters last night that the Pandan MCA division had nominated newcomer Gary Lim ( below ), a 39-year-old lawyer, instead of the veteran politician to contest the seat.

NONE He said the party's central committee depended on the guidance of the divisions on the selection of candidates, although BN chief Najib Abdul Razak will have the final say.

"He is not supported by the (Pandan MCA) division. Maybe because he doesn't work well with (them). Maybe they feel that after so long, there should be a change.

"This is what you people are talking (about). Malaysiakini said the PM should field new faces. That's what the opposition is saying, but the opposition is fielding those aged 81, 71," said Chua, referring to some top leaders in Pakatan Rakyat.

Chua was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Pandan MCA division's Chinese New Year open house last night.

Ong was conspicuously missing from the event.

'Winnable candidate'

Asked if MCA's chances would be hurt should Ong decide to stand as an independent candidate, Chua replied that it would benefit BN because the opposition vote would then be split.

Chua added that a "winnable candidate" should be a person with the support of MCA, BN component parties as well as NGOs.

NONE Ong ( left ) has represented Pandan for five terms and was among the 15 MCA MPs who survived the 2008 'political tsunami' which saw MCA's representation in Parliament halved.

He is also the sole MCA leader to win a parliamentary seat in Selangor.

Ong is viewed as one of BN's more credible leaders, best known for initiating the probe into the Port Klang Free Zone scandal and is likely to be a formidable candidate for the seat.

Following the 2008 general election, he was elected MCA president, only to be ousted by Chua 16 months later following a bitter feud.

Since then, Ong has been operating mostly outside the MCA and BN framework. His website does not even feature MCA's nor BN's logo.

Lim has ‘no political baggage’

Chua said fresh face Gary Lim has no “baggage” as politicians tend to accumulate enemies over time, and that is his strength.

“Lim is new, he just joined (the party),” he said, adding that Lim has done some groundwork in the constituency over the past one-and-a-half years.

azlan Echoing this, Lim, though a phone interview with Malaysiakini , said voters have complained that their current MP did little to help solve local problems.

He conceded feeling some pressure for being nominated as the replacement candidate since Ong is a six-term MP, a former minister as well as past party president.

Lim said he would not underestimate his rival should Ong decide to contest the seat as an independent.

In a speech at the open house, Chua urged the crowd to back PM Najib Razak so that the country could attain six percent in economic growth.

He also called on Selangor voters to reject Pakatan to avoid facing both power and water shortages.

Over 1,000 people attended the celebration, which was held at a low-cost housing complex in Pandan Jaya, Selangor.

Tee Keat: PM decides on candidates, not Soi Lek