BUTTERWORTH: Penang MCA should win the impending state election before it can discuss who should be appointed as chief minister.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said such discussion would be meaningless if the party does not win the seats it contests.

“We should be realistic, only when the time comes then we can talk about it,” he said.

He said if the party was to be given a big mandate in GE15, then it will have a bargaining chip.

“So I hope the people of Penang give us the chance – even if we cannot topple the government, at least give us the opportunity to play our roles as the Opposition,” he said.

Earlier Dr Wee attended the Penang MCA annual convention in Butterworth, where about 500 delegates from the party attended.

Present during the annual meeting were MCA party deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, vice president Datuk Lim Ban Hong, Penang MCA chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng and MCA youth chief Datuk Nicole wong Siaw Ting.

Earlier, during his opening speech, Tan said Umno in Penang could not govern the state should Barisan Nasional win.

“Even if Umno wins, they will need seats from MCA in order to rule the state.

“Therefore it is very clear that if Barisan is in power, the chief minister post must come from MCA under the coalition spirit.

“This is MCA’s bottom line and there is no doubt about it,” he said.

He said he hoped that Penangites would understand that once the state and Putrajaya were under the same governing alliance, it would facilitate development in the state.

He promised to the people of Penang and the Chinese community that MCA would ensure that the chief minister would be Chinese.