The Malaysian Insight

MCA’s Lee Ting Han is grateful to Barisan Nasional for giving him the chance to contest in the Paloh state seat despite pressure from Umno in wanting the seat.

The political novice said he was especially thankful to Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein for giving him the chance to contest in his hometown despite pushback from Umno grassroots for a Malay candidate.

Paloh and Kahang are constituencies under the Sembrong parliamentary seat.

Lee said under Hishammuddin’s guidance, he was slowly being accepted by Paloh voters.

“Hishammuddin’s campaign strategy is to cover the whole constituency,” Lee told The Malaysian Insight.

“Now when I visit the area, the grassroots are more accepting.”

In Paloh, where Malays make up 47% of total voters, followed by Chinese (37%), Indians (15%) and Orang Asli (1%), the support for BN is still very strong, Lee said.

The 32-year-old lawyer said if elected, he would do his best for Paloh as it was not just his constituency but also his home. – March 8, 2022.

Lee was born in Sarawak when his parents were teachers there. He grew up in Paloh and went to primary and secondary school in Pasir Gudang, Johor.

The Cambridge university graduate obtained a master’s in law in 2020 after which he returned home and actively joined politics. He joined MCA in 2015.

He is the current special affairs officer to Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong, who is also MCA president.

Young voters

Lee said he was confident of winning over the young voters.

He said just because youth party Muda was contesting in the state, that didn’t mean the young voters would automatically choose to support them.

“The youth have their own ideas. There are many young aspiring youth who are BN members.”

According to the BN manifesto launched by Umno Johor chairman Hasni Mohammed, the coalition’s main goal is to make Johor stable and prosperous.

“Achieving prosperity requires real effort. We will continue to work to expand BN strategies,” said Lee.

He added that Johor folk should work together to compete with Singapore, and urged talents to return home.

Lee is in a four-cornered fight in Paloh, going against incumbent Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali from Pakatan Harapan, V. Selvendran from Perikatan Nasional and Aminuddin Johari from Pejuang. –March 9, 2022.