Disgruntled MCA members are believed to be 'silently lobbying' Chinese Malaysian voters in Indera Kayangan to support Keadilan's Khoo Yang Chong instead of MCA's Oui Ah Lan.

According to Keadilan Youth executive committee member Diong Chi Tzuoh, one of the piqued members is believed to be MCA Perlis chief Steven Lee, who was overlooked as a candidate by the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

Diong added that Lee was unhappy with Oui's candidacy as her victory would spell the end of his ambition of becoming a state executive councillor in the next few years.

Oui is set to be appointed a state exco if she wins the hotly contested by-election. By tradition, MCA is given a state exco post in Perlis.

Diong said Khoo's victory however will give Lee an opportunity to contest as the Indera Kayangan state assembly representative in the coming general elections, scheduled for 2004 or earlier.

Claim denied

This claim was immediately rejected by the MCA Kangar division chief Khor Kaw Teng who said Lee fully supported Oui.

However, Lee was not available for comment as he had gone to Kuala Lumpur to be with his son who had an accident. Khor said this is why Lee was not seen campaigning in recent days.

"Lee and the entire state MCA is backing Oui," he told malaysiakini.

The by-election this Saturday will see a straight fight between Khoo and Oui. The seat fell vacant following the death of MCA's Khor Liang Tee last month.

According to Diong, Lee was Khor's ally and had expected to be named as the candidate.

"Lee's influence in the state is said to be overwhelming as he has the support of most of the community leaders and government officials," said Diong.

Sources also said that Oui supported MCA's Team B led by deputy president Lim Ah Lek but shifted camps when the opportunity to contest in the coming by-election arose.

Meanwhile, Lee, despite being pro-Team A, is believed to be unhappy with Ling's leadership.

The MCA leadership split into two camps after the party bought a controlling stake in Nanyang Press - the publisher of major Chinese dailies, Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press - which critics say is a "blow to press freedom".

Defection woe

Meanwhile, Diong also claimed that the Chinese mood in Indera Kayangan was swinging towards the opposition

"The sentiments have changed. We thought we have to work hard for Chinese votes but we seem to be getting a lot of help," said Diong.

However, Keadilan is also facing problems with its own disgruntled members. About 300 of its members defected to Umno last weekend.

Among the key leaders said to be defecting to the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition before polling day on Saturday include the party's former candidate Ko Chu Liang and former secretary-general Anuar Tahir.