Bumper crowd at MCA's 'anti-encirclement' rally

An estimated 2,000 people clad in blue gathered for MCA's rally in Yong Peng, Johor tonight for the announcement of the party's candidates for the upcoming election.

The theme - "Johor team all out attack, anti-encirclement mega rally" - was in reference to allegations that DAP was on a mission to "eliminate" MCA and Gerakan.

This is the second night in a row that MCA has held a large rally after some 2,000 people attended a rally in Bentong, Pahang last night.

The man of the hour was MCA deputy president and incumbent Ayer Hitam MP Wee Ka Siong, who accused his opponent - Liew Chin Tong - of being the DAP's chief "terminator".

He said although Liew and DAP may aspire to "eliminate" MCA in the coming elections, so far, their only victims have been their party comrades Dr Boo Cheng Hau and Dr Tan Seng Giaw.

"The more they try to encircle us, the most they are destroying themselves... They eliminated Boo. Boo is my friend... He is a hock chew. He is a good man. 

"As for Tan can remove tumours. Boo is a surgeon, but now they are treated like tumours. 

"The 'chief terminator' is Liew!" Wee told his audience. 

He said MCA leaders do not wish to destroy their opponents, citing how party president Liow Tiong Lai had still fielded his rival Gan Ping Sieu for the upcoming elections. 

DAP has decided to drop Tan, a party veteran and eight-term Kepong MP, in the upcoming elections. 

Boo's fate remains in limbo because he has refused the party's order to vacate the Skudai seat which he has represented for three terms and move elsewhere. 

The full list of MCA candidates in Johor, which was announced tonight, are as follows:

Parliament seat
Ayer Hiram - Wee Ka Siong
Tanjung Piai - Wee Jeck Seng
Tebrau - Hou Kok Chong
Labis - Chua Tee Yong
Iskandar Puteri (old name: Gelang Patah) - Jason Teoh
Kluang - Gan Ping Sieu
Bakri - Koh Chon Chai
Kulai - Tang Nai Soon

State seats
Stulang - Ang Boon Heng
Pulai Sebatang - Tee Siew Leong
Paloh - Teoh Yap Kun
Yong Peng - Ling Tian Soon
Jementah - Chiam Yoke Meng
Bekok - Tan Chong
Tangkak - Goh Tee Tee
Bentayan - Lee Kim Beng
Penggaram - Kang Beng Juan
Parit Yaani - Soh Lip Yan
Mengkibol - Chin Sim Lai
Johor Jaya - Tan Cher Puk
Perling (old name: Pengkalan Rinting) - Wong You Fong
Senai - Shen Poh Kuan
Pekan Nanas - Tan Eng Meng - Mkini