MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong today said the party had put forward Chew Mei Fun as its candidate in the Kajang by-election, as she is in stark contrast to PKR's Anwar Ibrahim.

Wee took a swipe at Anwar, who had said he would retire if Pakatan Rakyat failed to capture Putrajaya in the last general election but did not follow through, saying Chew had shown the opposite.

"Chew stood out because her personality is a contrast to Anwar's.

"If Anwar said he will not contest, tomorrow he will contest; but if Chew says she would resign, she would do it even if it is a ministership.

"This is a leader who keeps her word, not a leader who promises but cannot follow through," Wee (left) told journalists after accompanying Chew on a walkabout in Kajang town this afternoon.

Chew had in 2010 resigned as MCA Wanita chief and as deputy minister after vowing to step down if Chua Soi Lek became party president, citing his sex scandal.

Since then she had  made a comeback as MCA vice-president after Chua relinquished his position last year.

Wee also rubbished PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin's accusation that MCA was putting up a woman as a scapegoat in a difficult-to-win seat.

"If that is the case, then she should be asking why PKR isn't putting a woman (candidate), isn't that the role of a Wanita chief?" he questioned.

‘Recognition of women’

Chew also weighed in on Zuraida's remarks, saying her candidacy is in fact a recognition of women's ability to face up to tough challenges.
    
"Allowing me to have this chance to face a giant like my opponent is a (sign of) respect for women," she said.

When asked to comment on the ban against four online media from covering the announcement of her candidacy at the BN headquarters yesterday, Chew (right in photo) said that she had been unaware of the ban as she did personally speak to the online media there.

"I don't know about it (the ban), but I did allow the Malaysiakini's interview at the lobby," she noted.

Meanwhile, MCA president Liow Tiong Lai - who was also present - denied that the party was campaigning ahead of nomination day.

"We have not started campaigning, we are (just) making preparations at every voting station to motivate our supporters," he said.