KUALA KUBU BARU: The sentiments of Kuala Kubu Baharu constituents towards unity government candidate Pang Sock Tao remain positive despite the machinery not receiving any help from the MCA.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the party will also not force MCA if the Barisan Nasional component party is determined to sit out the campaign.
"It is fine. Like I have previously said, we are not forcing anyone if they do not want to help (with the by-election campaign) and there is no problem here.
"All is well with the voters' sentiments and our candidate has received a good reception from the local community over the past few days.
"They welcome the presence (of our candidate) and the reception we received so far has been very positive," he said in a press conference at Kuala Kubu Baharu, today.
Loke said this when asked about the reception towards Pang after a week of campaigning, as well as the campaign's progress following MCA's decision to sit out the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election campaign.
Loke, who is transport minister and Seremban member of parliament, said the visits by leaders of the unity government to Malay, Chinese, Indian and Orang Asli communities in Kuala Kubu Baharu have illustrated the unity government's capacity to represent all Malaysians, irrespective of their religious and ethnic diversity.
"This is the strength that we want to showcase, which is cooperation among races and religions so that we can bring about more stable and progressive politics for our country.
"Even though the candidate presented by the unity government is from the Chinese community, leaders from all communities and component parties of the unity government still provide solid support.
"This is a strength of the unity government that we want to uphold, where our diversity is our strength and we encourage unity in diversity."
The Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election will see a four-corner fight between Pang, Perikatan Nasional's Khairul Azhari Saut, Parti Rakyat Malaysia's (PRM) Hafizah Zainudin and independent candidate Nyau Ke Xin.
The by-election, which will be held on May 11, was triggered by the death of its three-term assemblyman Lee Kee Hiong from DAP.