GE14 | DAP has reserved announcing their candidate for the Kulai parliamentary seat, the choice of which is expected to impact upon its entire strategy for Johor in the 14th general election.

Speaking at the launch of the Kulai Pakatan Harapan operation room, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang asked the audience if they wanted to know who would stand in Kulai and the state seat of Senai.

When they said "Yes," Lim only announced DAP newcomer Tee Boon Tsong as the candidate for Senai, but teased the audience further on Kulai.

"How about (incumbent Kulai MP) Teo Nie Ching? Will she stay here or go elsewhere? We reserve the announcement for now."

Wong for Parliament

However, Lim did announce that incumbent Senai assemblyperson Wong Shu Qi (photo) will contest a parliamentary seat.

He first joked that Wong may call an end to her political career following the announcement of Tee as her replacement.

“How about Wong? Is she finished? We hope she can be an MP in the new Parliament sitting. (As for) which constituency she will stand in, we will announce that.

Read more: There are no safe zones, Kit Siang reminds party leaders

“We have four women MPs. Teo (Kulai), Kasthuri Patto (Batu Kawan), Teresa Kok (Seputeh) and Alice Lau (Lanang). We want to increase it.

Lim later confirmed in a statement that Wong would be standing for a parliamentary seat, as would Selangor state assembly speaker Hannah Yeoh and Damansara assemblyperson Yeo Bee Yin. 

Yeo's shift to the parliamentary seat of Bakri was announced last month, but Lim said that the seats Wong and Yeoh will be moved to would only be revealed in due course. 

He also did not discount the possibility of DAP announcing more women parliamentary candidates. 

Gobind absent

Notable by his absence at the launch of the operation room today was DAP national deputy chairperson Gobind Singh Deo (photo), who is rumoured to be one of the potential candidates for Kulai.

Yesterday, a DAP media invite mentioned that “candidates of Kulai and Senai” would be announced this afternoon, which raised eyebrows because it hinted that Teo and Wong would not be defending their seats.

Malaysiakini understands that Gobind may be fielded in Kulai to replace Teo.

If so, Teo may be shifted to parliamentary seat of Kluang, currently occupied by Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong, while Wong could stand in Labis.

Kulai’s voters are 54.12 percent Chinese, 34.81 percent Malay and 10.32 percent Indian.

It is considered a DAP safe seat, as Teo won with a hefty 13,450 majority in 2013, the first time that the party had captured Kulai.