Former MCA Youth secretary-general Leong Kim Soon has officially left the party to join Bersatu, reportedly triggering an exodus of approximately 100 MCA members. In a Facebook post today, Leong, who previously served as the political secretary to former MCA president Liow Tiong Lai, announced his immediate resignation from the party.
According to Sin Chew, Leong was inducted into Bersatu’s associate wing at a breaking-fast event in Bentong, Pahang, where he also submitted around 100 additional membership applications to Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin.
In response, Hamzah appointed Leong as the head of Bersatu’s associate wing chapters in Pahang and Bentong, which cater to non-Bumiputeras. The opposition leader expressed confidence that Leong’s move would strengthen Bersatu’s prospects of reclaiming the Bentong parliamentary seat in the upcoming General Election (GE16).
Bentong had been represented by Liow in Parliament for four consecutive terms before DAP took the seat from MCA. Liow’s attempts to regain the seat in the 2018 and 2022 elections were unsuccessful, losing to Wong Tack and DAP’s Young Syefura Othman, respectively.
Bersatu associate wing chief Chong Fat Full stated that Leong’s decision to join the party reflects MCA’s declining relevance as a non-Malay component of Barisan Nasional (BN). He noted that the repeated defection of MCA members to Bersatu highlights frustrations over MCA’s decreasing effectiveness, potentially spurring calls for internal reforms or a coalition realignment.
“The shifting political landscape in Malaysia is pressuring race-based parties to adapt,” Chong said, emphasizing the growing inclusivity of Bersatu’s outreach efforts.
Furthermore, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia announced last night that more than 100 Bentong MCA members had followed Leong in joining the party’s Associate Wing. Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin welcomed the new members, emphasizing that their move to Bersatu reflects the party’s inclusive stance toward all communities, including the Chinese and Indian communities.
Leong’s addition to Bersatu was seen as a valuable asset, given his extensive experience and strong grassroots connections. Hamzah confirmed that 113 people had joined the party through Leong, with more expected to follow.
Hamzah also reiterated that Bersatu remains open to the possibility of cooperating with Umno, but only if it benefits the future of the nation. He pointed out that, after the 15th general election, a coalition between Umno and Perikatan Nasional could have formed a government, falling just eight seats short of a simple majority.
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