KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 — MyPPP president Tan Sri M. Kayveas announced today that he will contest in the Cameron Highlands by-election.

"The party supreme council members gave their unanimous support to contest the by-election after a meeting today.

"The candidate is myself, they have recommended me as the candidate, to make the by-elections more exciting, we should contest,” he said during a special press conference at MyPPP headquarters here in Kampung Attap.

"It is time the country sees MyPPP as another third force in local politics, we may not be significant now, but this party can grow and be the party of the future because we are a multiracial party,” he said.

He said he would champion local issues such as labour, the traffic, the environment, land titles disputes, local housing, and grouses pertaining to the local farmers.

"The traffic situation there is bad where on weekends and holidays, a three to four kilometre journey can take two hours, it gets ridiculously congested,” he said referring to the congestion in Cameron Highlands.

Kayveas said he hopes to win the seat and foster a healthy relationship with the state and federal governments, considering MyPPP is now an independent party.

When asked on his projected chances at winning the seat, Kayveas conceded that he would be the underdog candidate, with a 50-50 chance at winning.

"Information we are getting from the ground readings shows we have a chance, it’s not a clear chance at winning, but we are a third force so there is a chance,” he said.

When asked to comment on MIC’s intentions to field a candidate for the by-election, Kayveas brushed off the notion saying the party has no suitable candidates.

"My political analysis tells me it will be wrong for MIC to field a candidate since I am also a candidate,” he said.

The Cameron Highlands by-election, which will be held on January 26, was triggered after the Election Court nullified the 2018 election result in the seat as it ruled that voters had been bribed to favour BN.