Kepong heats up with possible three-way fight
Originally an election rookie versus an opposition ‘giant’ fight, Kepong has now turned into an interesting battle as an unconfirmed independent enters into the fray.
Originally an election rookie versus an opposition ‘giant’ fight, Kepong has now turned into an interesting battle as an unconfirmed independent enters into the fray.
Former Federal Territories MCA Youth deputy chairperson Yee Poh Ping quit his party this morning and is seriously contemplating running against Gerakan’s Lau Hoi Keong and incumbent DAP Dr Tan Seng Giaw.
Previously, Malaysiakini reported that Gerakan faces its ultimate test of survival in the Chinese-majority area of Kepong this time round after losing to opposition DAP for six-terms.
Locals want MCA
Yee when contacted shared these sentiments and said the locals are asking for MCA to contest instead of Gerakan.
"We have a long term service record. We’ve represented MCA to serve the people for more than 11 years and uphold the image of an efficient party.
"Gerakan has been working hard lately but based on the needs and demands of the local residents, they want changes because Gerakan has lost six terms in a row.
"They want changes in the party (representation). Kepong is dominated by the Chinese and so is MCA. They want representation from MCA," he told Malaysiakini.
In the 2004 elections, Seng Giaw’s (photo)23,282 votes defeated Ma’s 21,428. The industrial town has over 60,000 voters made up of 91 percent Chinese, 5.2 percent Indians, 3.5 per cent Malays and 0.3 percent of others.
According to Yee, the locals have been lobbying for change since 1999. However, in both the 1999 and 2004 elections, the seat was contested by Gerakan’s Ma who lost to DAP.
Ma in this elections will be running in Barisan Nasional’s ‘safe’ Segambut parliamentary seat after incumbent Dr Tan Kee Kwong was dropped by the party.
However, Yee’s decision to contest is still not finalised.
"I haven’t finalised my decision yet. I am still listening to the grassroots response," he said, adding that he would pull out of the race if it is negative.
Ex-DAP leader to take on former boss
In another development, former Selangor DAP vice chairperson Peter Tan quit his party this morning.
It was speculated that Tan would be given the Kota Alam Shah state seat but this was given to Internal Security Act detainee M Manoharan today.
Meanwhile, three-term Gerakan assemblyperson Cheung Khai Yan joined PKR after being dropped as a Barisan Nasional candidate.
Cheung, who is Derga state seat incumbent, said he decided to switch parties because he wanted to contest the seat.
He will be contesting against newcomer, Dr Cheah Soon Hai, for the Kedah state seat.
Tomorrow potential contestants will officially file their nomination papers at selected Election Commission centres between 9 and 10am. This will kick off the 13-day campaign which will end with polling on March 8.
