AMPANG, Nov 1 — Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal today announced former MCA president Tan Sri Ong Tee Keat’s candidacy under the party in the coming 15th general election (GE15).
Ong, who officially joined the party today, will contest in Pandan, a seat where he served as the MP for two terms from 2004 to 2013 under MCA.
Shafie also announced former Teratai DAP assemblyman Bryan Lai Wai Chong, who is now Warisan Selangor and KL deputy chairman, for the Ampang parliamentary seat.
Warisan will also field Wee Choo Keong in Wangsa Maju, a seat that he held as a PKR MP from 2008 to 2013.
Wee was the Bukit Bintang MP from 1990 to 2004 under DAP, during which time he was expelled from the party in 1998.
Meanwhile, Shafie also confirmed that former Jelutong DAP MP Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun had been fielded in the Bayan Baru parliamentary seat.
For now, Shafie said Warisan will contest 26 parliamentary seats and 16 state seats.
“But like I said before, this is not finalised. Right up to November 5, there could still be additional seats that might be included.
“We can put candidates anywhere, like Pagoh and Langkawi, but can we win those seats?
“The possibility of winning is more important for us; like in Kedah, we have already done in-depth analyses on whether or not we can win,” he told reporters during a press conference today here after announcing the party’s candidates.
Among others, Shafie said deliberations were still ongoing for Sungai Petani, Hulu Selangor and Arau.
When asked how many seats he believes Warisan will win in the election, while not stating an exact number, Shafie expressed confidence in the constituencies where party candidates will be fielded.
“I am confident that there are a number of seats that we can win this election, because when I went to the ground, people are quite confused whether to vote for this party or that party. I told them: Vote for Warisan — yes, this is a new change,” he said.
He added that Warisan has no intention to work with the current coalitions and that the party will leave the decision to the people.
Reminiscing about the previous general election, he said the rakyat was given high hopes, only to be let down and power ceded to the coalition that lost — Barisan Nasional.
“In the end, we lost power; otherwise, we would still be ministers until next June.
“It is not impossible that this will repeat again,” he added.
Ong, who was also present at the press conference, said he will do his best to prepare for the election, regardless of who his opponents will be.
“I don’t feel there is a difference between who will contest as my opponent.
“We don’t know who yet, and so far, as what I know, Rafizi (PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli) has stated his interest and announced his candidacy.
“But each time when I contested, previously in Ampang Jaya, and then Pandan, I definitely gave my best possible to my electoral preparations,” he said.
