Johor MCA in the process of identifying GE14 candidates

Its chairman, Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said all 16 of the 17 division chiefs had been called up to list down their candidates about two weeks before the Chinese New Year recently.

It was learnt that one division could not turn up because of unavoidable circumstances and would list down its candidates soon.

"The Johor MCA is now in the process of identifying the candidates to be fielded and we have discussed this matter.

"What is important is that the candidate must be strong, energetic, of calibre, with integrity, possessing a good image, and well accepted by the local community," he said after a public dinner in conjunction with the Chinese New Year Celebration for the Muar, Ledang and Bakri districts, here last night.

Also present were Johor Menteri Besar, Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin and local MCA leaders.

Wee, who is also a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and MCA deputy president, said what was more important was that the candidates could become the "champion of the people" in tackling issues in their respective constituencies.

"Besides the candidate's personality, the method that we use in each locality differs in order to woo the support of the Chinese community for the Barisan Nasional (BN) especially in areas where we had lost," he said.

He added that he could not announce the percentage of old and new faces to be fielded but this would be disclosed when the time was right.

Asked on the support from the Chinese community for the BN currently, Wee said the support was improving and the community was aware that they had been misled by the ploys of the opposition in the last general election.

"Why should the Chinese community support the opposition which is now breaking up and no longer compatible?" he said.

Meanwhile in his speech, Mohamed Khaled called on the Chinese community in the state to be together with the state government in taking Johor to greater heights.