Yong peng: A fire that destroyed about 80 per cent of the MCA office in Yong Peng yesterday has not only resulted in significant property losses but has also disrupted the party's preparations for the upcoming Johor state election.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, MCA Youth chief Ling Tian Soon said the party is considering relocating its operations to a temporary premises once investigations by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) are completed. "This incident will affect MCA because the building has long served as the party's operations centre. We may need to find a temporary location to continue our preparations for the state election," he told Bernama when contacted today.

Ling, who is also the incumbent Yong Peng Assemblyman, said the blaze destroyed the building's public address system, newly installed air-conditioning units, furniture, and various documents and equipment used for community programmes. He noted that the loss was also deeply felt by the local Chinese community, many of whom regard the 70-year-old building as both a landmark and a centre for community activities.

"Everyone feels saddened by the loss of an iconic building in Yong Peng. I ask the public to remain patient. MCA will make plans moving forward to ensure it continues serving as a centre for community and family activities in the area," he said.

According to Ling, the building, measuring about 100 feet long, 70 feet wide and 20 feet high, has hosted a wide range of community activities, including meetings, dance classes, exercise sessions, lion dance training and karaoke programmes, which are held four times a week. "Although the fire mainly spread through the upper section of the building, the entire interior is no longer usable, and all activities have been temporarily suspended," he said.

The Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call regarding the incident at 8.28 pm, and firefighters succeeded in bringing the blaze under control and fully extinguishing it by 9.56 pm.