MCA's Perling candidate brings her 'secret weapon' - Najib

MCA's Perling candidate brings her 'secret weapon' - Najib


JOHOR POLLS | MCA kicked off its campaign for its Perling candidate Nicole Tan Hiang Kee by riding on the star power of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, who has been convicted of corruption, abuse of power and money laundering.

Tan, who visited a food court at Taman Bukit Indah in the suburbs of Johor Bahru, saw predominantly Chinese patrons crowding around them but their attention appears to be focused more on Najib than the MCA candidate.

Nicole Tan Hiang Kee


Tan, who was later asked if she was worried Najib was outshining her, replied: "It doesn't matter as we share the limelight."

"After all, we are from the same political coalition. I feel honoured that he is willing to help me in this election," she told journalists.

Her opponents in Perling are Perikatan Nasional's Khoo Siaw Lee and Pakatan Harapan's Liew Chin Tong.

Liew had said despite Najib's posturing in the Chinese community to show that he is popular, the Johor DAP chief did not think that the majority of middle-ground voters will take kindly to a leader accused of grand corruption.

Najib, however, sees otherwise.

"I see that the support of the Chinese community (for BN) has grown. Look that the reception this morning, it can be said to be a great response.

"We didn't see this during the 14th general election. I hope it can be translated into support on March 12 (Johor polling day)," he told journalists.

Najib said he even saw a youth who will be voting for the first time donning a ‘Bossku’ T-shirt.

"Malu apa bossku" (What is there to be ashamed of, my boss?) is Najib's slogan that has been used to rebrand his image after he was ousted from power in the 2018 general election as the 1MDB scandal prompted the opposition to present a united front.

However, the fractious coalition that ended BN's six-decade rule collapsed after only 22 months in power.

The anti-BN forces are now split into two major coalitions, Harapan and PN.

Najib vs Muhyiddin star powers

PN has also tried to ride on persona-driven star power, promoting its chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin as the caring father who they refer to as "Abah".

Najib, however, said whether it was effective is another matter.

"Time will tell if it benefits Bersatu, we wait for March 12," he quipped.

Najib posed for photographs and fist-bumped a number of patrons in the area, while some even greeted him with cheers of 'Bossku'.

Najib has made very public appearances ahead of the Johor polls, including a visit to the popular annual Johor Chingay procession and a visit to the prestigious Foon Yew High School - the biggest Chinese independent school in Johor.

Najib, when asked about the criticism towards his visit due to his conviction which he is appealing at the Federal Court, said he was invited to both venues.

"If the local community invited me why do other people want to be busybodies? It is their right to invite whoever they want.

"If they want to invite DAP leaders, they also have a right to do so but they didn't," he said.

The incumbent in Perling is DAP's Cheo Yee How, who has been dropped. In the 2018 general election, he won with a 19,533-vote majority.

BN received very little support from the Chinese community in that election but is counting on a swing.

Najib is appealing his 12-year jail sentence and RM210 fine over the misappropriation of RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former 1MDB subsidiary.