After weeks of negotiations between PKR and DAP, the 'homeless' Johor PKR chief Chua Jui Meng has been named as Pakatan Rakyat's candidate for the Segamat parliamentary constituency.

NONEPro-Pakatan digital TV channel Media Rakyat reported that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim released a list of party candidates for eight parliamentary seats in northern Johor and Malacca. Anwar was on a ceramah tour of both states last night.

His announcement of Chua's candidacy may have ended a month-long seat allocation dispute between PKR and DAP in Johor.

Chua, a former MCA federal minister who defected to PKR in 2009, kept away from all public events after DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang was on March 18 named the candidate for Gelang Patah parliamentary constituency, the seat that Chua had been eyeing.

NONEBreaking his silence on April 5, Chua (right) described himself as a 'homeless' candidate without a seat, and called on his supporters to back Lim.

Chua is expected to face MIC deputy president Dr S Subramaniam, the caretaker human resources minister.

ISubramaniam retained Segamat in 2008 with a majority of 2,991 votes against DAP's Pang Hok Liong. This is a mixed seat now, comprising Chinese (46 percent), Malay (44 percent) and Indian (10 percent) voters

It is seen as a winnable seat for Pakatan as non-Malay voters make up more than 50 percent of the electorate.

The Chinese community is said to be disgruntled over the federal government's unfulfilled promise to revive an independent Chinese secondary school there.

However, Anwar's blessings may not mean a smooth ride for Chua.

Pang, a long-time politician in Segamat, has already threatened to contest as an Independent candidate if Chua is fielded, as the DAP grassroots are not supportive of the latter.

NONEDuring a press conference at Pasar Peladang in Skudai this morning, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said if Segamat goes to PKR, negotiations between PKR and DAP over state seats in Johor could be solved, and that DAP would contest the Johor Jaya state seat.

Earlier, both DAP and PKR had claimed the right to contest in Johor Jaya.

However, Lim said after giving Segamat to PKR, Johor DAP will contest another parliamentary seat, maintaining the total number of parliamentary seats the party will contest at seven, which is still the lowest among all three Pakatan component parties.

Asked which additional parliamentary constituency the DAP would contest, Lim said that he would respond on the matter tomorrow.

With Segamat going to PKR, the party will contest 12 parliamentary seats, whereas PAS will be taking the remaining eight seats.

PKR candidates in other seats

Anwar last night also announced the candidates for seven parliamentary seats:

Ledang - Johor PKR vice-chairperson Hassan Karim

Sri Gading - Johor PKR election committee chief Mohd Khuzzan Abu Bakar

Sekijang - PKR Youth secretary Julailey Jemadi

Sembrong - Putrajaya PKR division chief Onn Abu Bakar

Pasir Gudang - Johor PKR deputy chief Ahmad Faidi Saidi

Bukit Katil - PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar

Tangga Batu - Tangga Batu PKR division chief Rahim Ali

Umno currently holds all these constituencies, with Sembrong in the hands of caretaker Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.


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