The 'Malam Mesra 1 Malaysia Sambutan Tahun Baru Cina', which was held just 600 metres away at Dataran Labis and featured local artistes and deejays from national Mandarin radio station AiFM, attracted only some 500 locals.

The festive concert organised by the Pekan Labis village security and development committee (JKKK) and other local Chinese NGOs, had invited MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek, deputy president Liow Tiong Lai and Labis MP Chua Tee Yong as VIPs.

tenang by election 280111 fireworks at 1 malaysia new year partyMCA campaign leaflets lambasting PAS' Islamic state agenda were distributed during the concert.

Laptops, mobile phones and hampers were among the prizes given away in a lucky draw. Chua also handed out letters of compliment, signed by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, to seven students from SJK(C) Labis who scored 7As in the UPSR last year.

The crowd was entertained to two rounds of two-minute fireworks as a curtain raiser and to mark the end of the concert.

In a short speech, Chua reiterated the MCA stance that voting for the PAS candidate would be seen as supporting an Islamic state.