PETALING JAYA – Former MCA Youth secretary-general Leong Kim Soon has left MCA to join Bersatu, reportedly triggering an exodus of about 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 MCA.
Sin Chew reported that Leong was officially inducted into Bersatu’s associate wing at a breaking-fast event in Bentong, Pahang. At the event, he reportedly submitted around 100 additional membership applications to Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin.
Hamzah promptly appointed Leong as the head of Bersatu’s Pahang and Bentong associate wing chapters, which cater to non-Bumiputeras. The opposition leader expressed confidence that Leong’s move would strengthen Bersatu’s bid for the Bentong parliamentary seat in the upcoming general election (GE16).
Bentong was represented by Liow in Parliament for four consecutive terms before DAP took the seat from MCA. Liow failed to reclaim the seat in both the 2018 and 2022 general elections, losing to Wong Tack and DAP’s Young Syefura Othman, respectively.
Separately, Bersatu associate wing chief Chong Fat Full said Leong’s decision to join the party reflects MCA’s declining relevance as a non-Malay component of Barisan Nasional (BN).
“The repeated loss of MCA members to Bersatu highlights frustrations over the former’s waning efficacy, potentially accelerating calls for internal reform or coalition realignment. Ultimately, Bersatu’s multi-phase outreach reflects Malaysia’s shifting political landscape, where race-based parties face pressure to adapt,” Chong told Voice Asia News.