PONTIAN: The Opposition will use the same tactic of switching seats and candidates as they have done in past elections after failing to bring development to their areas, said Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

The MCA president said when the Opposition could not deliver its pledges to the people, it would run to other areas.

“They are only good at playing up issues to divide the people and nothing more.

“Now, with the 14th general election looming, the Opposition parties are trying to switch seats and candidates.

“This is their usual trick,” he said after launching the Tanjung Piai MCA war room yesterday.

Liow said he did not think DAP or PKR would contest in Tanjung Piai in the coming polls.

He also urged voters to give their full support to Barisan Nasional candidates, who had served the people well.

During the launch, Liow also announced that incumbent Tanjung Piai MP Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng would be defending his seat, while new face Tan Eng Meng was named MCA’s candidate to wrest back the Pekan Nanas state seat.

“Wee is hardworking and has shown strong commitment to assist the people in solving their problems.

“As for Tan, we have submitted his name to the Barisan leadership,” he said, adding that MCA had a strong and united team to face the Opposition in both seats.

Wee is the Tanjung Piai MP for two terms since 2008. Prior to that, he was the Pekan Nanas assemblyman for one term.

Tan is the Tanjung Piai MCA division vice-chief.

During a dialogue with Chinese non-governmental organisations, Liow said MCA would support the local community’s requests to upgrade the Pontian Hospital, enhance road connectivity and build a Urban Transformation Centre (UTC).

He said residents hoped that the 40-year-old hospital would be upgraded to a specialist hospital.

“It is high time to develop the hospital and as the former health minister, I will give my full support.

“This issue has been raised in Parliament before, but has yet to get approval from the Health Ministry,” he said.

Liow, who is the Transport Minister, said MCA would also support the construction of a UTC for the convenience of residents in Pontian and Tanjung Piai.

“If a UTC is not viable, then we will propose an RTC (Rural Trans­formation Centre),” he said.

Liow added that suggestions to expand the main roads to include a double carriage highway would also be looked into.

At a dinner function later, Liow said Johor executive councillor and three-term assemblyman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong would also be defending his Pulai Sebatang seat.

-The Star-