AMPANG, May 8 — Despite a landslide defeat in GE13 in what was once one of its strongest constituencies, MCA is refusing to see itself as the “underdog” in Pandan.

This is despite the party going up against PKR heavyweight Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is contesting there.

Barisan Nasional and MCA candidate for Pandan, Datuk Leong Kok Wee, told Malay Mail recently that he still stands a fair chance of retaining the seat for MCA, despite losing it by over 26,000 votes in the 2013 elections.

The 2013 results were a drastic departure from the 2008 polls, when Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat survived the 2008 “political tsunami” and retained the seat with a 2,961 vote majority.

“I would say I still have a 50 per cent chance,” Leong said, attributing the 2013 results to a last-minute change in candidate, when Lim Chin Yee was fielded instead of Ong, who was a very popular figure in Pandan.

“We know why we lost the election by so many votes, it is because of the last-minute change in candidate, and the candidate is not local,” Leong said, pointing to the fact that he is a Pandan local who has served the constituency for 31 years.

“For me, the problems of Pandan are my problems,” he said.

However, a local MIC leader was at wits end about drumming up support for BN in Pandan, effectively admitting that it would be difficult for BN to retain the seat, despite Leong’s best efforts in using local issues to appeal to voters here.

“I have been an MIC branch leader at Pandan Jaya for 30 years, but I think it is difficult for BN to win this area,” said K. Uthaya Kumaran, a 74-year-old taxi driver met by Malay Mail here.

“We have organised many ceramah (talks), but the people are just not turning up,” he added.

Uthaya Kumaran was not sure why the BN campaign has received such a cold reception in Pandan, adding that he himself was “not sure” why the people are “not interested in BN”.

In contrast to Leong, Dr Wan Azizah’s campaign platform here has been one of national issues, and in the span of one election, Pakatan Harapan sees this as one of its “safe seats”, despite a five-cornered fight including PAS and also Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM).

Leong claimed that the people’s reception to his campaign has been warm, but his evening talk here observed by Malay Mail started an hour late due to a lack of crowd.

Pandan has 101,319 voters, with an equal 46 per cent split between Malay and Chinese voters, and 7 per cent Indian voters.