GEORGE TOWN – Penang DAP has reminded the public to not believe online speculations and the purported list of party candidates gone viral online.
Its chairman Chow Kon Yeow said nothing has been decided yet, so party members, supporters and voters should not buy into the lists circulating online.
“These are unconfirmed,” said Chow in a statement.
Chow said Penang DAP has just concluded its interviews with the incumbents of the 19 state seats which the party has held for the past three terms, since 2008 with a a five-person candidate panel yesterday.
The panel comprises Chow, state deputy chairperson P. Ramasamy, two vice-chairmen Jagdeep Singh Deo and Zairil Khir Johari, and state secretary Lim Hui Ying.
The panel will meet soon to deliberate and decide on the potential candidates to represent DAP and Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the state election.
This list will then be forwarded to the DAP Central Executive Committee for consideration and final endorsement.
“Party members, supporters, and voters are urged not to trust any list circulating on social media as those are fake,” said Chow.
Meanwhile, speculations have swirled on whether those classified as veterans will be allowed to continue serving the party and state.
With Chow and DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng as the exceptions in terms of being allowed to contest in view of their party positions, speculations are centred around veterans such as Ramasamy, Jagdeep, Phee Boon Poh, Chong Eng, Yeoh Soon Hin and Lim Swee Khim on whether they would be allowed to continue their struggle as an elected representative.
This is based on the steps taken by DAP in the last two state elections where younger candidates were allowed to be infused into the lineup.
However, in 2018, the change of guards did not live up to expectations when two veterans, Datuk Danny Law Heng Kiang and Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun, quit the party after accusing the leadership of sidelining following the decision to drop them.
Only Datuk Lim Hock Seng and Ng Wei Aik remained loyal to the cause despite being asked to make way.
Meanwhile, it was reported that DAP’s closest ally, PKR, will undertake significant changes to its lineup for nine state seats it currently holds where the majority are Malay-Muslim voters.
Following defeats in the last general election last year, PKR has taken stock and plans to re-energise its presence in Penang with young professionals, who can also appeal to the younger voters by showcasing their religious credentials.
With talks that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s eldest daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar may want to mount a comeback here after losing the Permatang Pauh parliament seat to state PAS Youth head Muhammad Fawwaz Md Jan, it is speculated that she may be fielded in either the Seberang Jaya or Pantai Jerejak state seats.
Veterans such as Dr Norlela Ariffin, Jason Ong Khan Lee and Datuk Abdul Halim Hussein may also make way while there are speculations that former state executive councillor Datuk Abdul Malik Abul Kassim may be given a chance to make a comeback.
Insiders shared that PH wants candidates who can hold their own against the resurging opposition of Perikatan Nasional, whose elections director Datuk Seri Muhammed Sanusi Md Nor is said to be popular in Penang although he is Kedah menteri besar. – The Vibes, June 29, 2023
