YONG PENG: Ayer Hitam MCA division chief Ling Tian Soon has received the party’s full backing to wrest the Yong Peng state seat from DAP in the upcoming general election.

MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the party is confident that 33-year-old Ling is the new blood that the constituency needed in pushing for better development in the area.

He said Ling, the youngest division chief in the country when he took over the post three years ago, has the right leadership qualities to perform the needed tasks.

Liow added that under the leadership of MCA deputy president and Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, the Yong Peng team "is a strong one."

In the last general election, MCA lost Yong Peng to DAP’s Chew Peck Choo by 2,475 votes.

Before the last general election, Yong Peng was held by MCA’s Lim Kee Moi and the state seat is part of Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat.