KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA is set to make a comeback by fielding senior leaders in key constituencies in the coming elections.

However, MCA is yet to submit its list of candidates for Barisan Nasional council to finalize.

It is learned that at the recent MCA presidential council and central committee meetings, leaders were urged to start preparations for the coming general elections to ensure that the party wins in the elections.

Most MCA central leaders remain mum about the list of candidates.

Party president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong is likely to defend his Ayer Hitam seat for which he is the four-term member of parliament.

Talks are rife that Tony Pua, DAP’s MP for Damansara, may be fielded to take on Wee in Ayer Hitam.

Nevertheless, as DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook has said the party does not encourage candidates to cross to other states in election, the likelihood of Pua moving south is slim.

Meanwhile, MCA deputy president Datuk Dr. Mah Hang Soon has received open endorsements from 26 brnaches in Tanjung Malim to contest the Tanjung Malim parliamentary seat.

Although Mah lost in Tanjung Malim in the last election to Chang Lih Kang from PKR, the seat used to be a stronghold for MCA.

Mah and Chang will likely clash again in the coming election, while PAS will likely let its allies, either Gerakan Rakyat or Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, contest.

The Tanjung Malim parliamentary seat is seen as a key constituency for MCA, as it will boost the party’s winning chances in two more adjacent seats – Gopeng and Kampar.

MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon recently set up an office in Raub and has been serving the people there since more than one and a half years ago. The locals are familiar with him.

The Raub parliamentary seat will likely be a battle between DAP and MCA. DAP’s Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji won with a majority of 3,159 votes four years ago.

Another MCA heavyweight, former president Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai, is tipped to make a comeback by contesting Bentong seat.

A four-term MP for Bentong, Liow lost to Wong Tack of DAP in the last election.

Liow, whose political career started in Bentong, has remained in Bentong despite the defeat.

It is not known if Wong Tack is defending the seat this time.

One of the three MCA vice presidents, deputy primary industries and commodities minister Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng, will likely defend the Tanjung Piai seat he won in the 2019 by-election.

Another vice president Datuk Lim Ban Hong, the deputy international trade and industry minister who won the Klebang state seat in the recent Melaka state election, will likely contest the Alor Gajah parliamentary seat this time.

Alor Gajah division chairman Senator Datuk Wira Koh Nai Kwong is another potential candidate there.

Koh declined to comment on this, saying instead he had been serving the seat for years.

Koh’s three-year senatorship started on December 10, 2020.

Deputy youth and sports minister Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker, who used to be keen on Raub but gave way to Chong, is unsure whether he will be fielded in Kuantan, as this will depend on whether Umno returns the seat to MCA.