KUALA LUMPUR: Incumbent Pandan MP Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat is not listed as a possible candidate under MCA to defend the parliamentary seat.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said Ong did not have the support from Barisan Nasional component parties in the constituency that he has held for five terms.

“Ong doesn’t have the support from his own division,” Dr Chua said after attending a Chinese New Year open house organised by Pandan MCA here yesterday.

“Ong’s name is not in the list prepared by the division and I am dependent on the list prepared by the division,” he added.

He also introduced 39-year-old lawyer Gary Lim to reporters as MCA’s choice of candidate for the constituency.

“Gary is a new face and he does not have any baggage.

“All politicians have enemies and over time you accumulate more,” said Dr Chua.

At the same time, he said he could not stop Ong from contesting as an independent, and that it might even benefit Barisan Nasional to split votes for the Opposition.

PKR has announced that its director of strategies Rafizi Ramli would be contesting in the parliamentary constituency.

At the function, Dr Chua also warned that people especially those in Selangor would be hampered with a host of problems including a water shortage if they were to re-elect Pakatan Rakyat for state government.

– THE STAR