GEORGE TOWN – Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) candidates for Penang’s parliamentary seats may see changes in the 15th general election as the opposition coalition attempts to refresh its line-up by replacing some incumbents.
Political observers here say that after three terms of ruling the state, PH needs to reboot its line-up. As it does so for state polls, only slated for next year, such considerations will affect its selection for parliamentary seats. Penang will only hold state polls next year as the DAP-led government was instructed by party headquarters not to dissolve its assembly this year to be in sync with other PH-ruled states.
Most of the permutations involve DAP, which holds the most federal seats, or seven, out of the state’s 13 parliamentary seats.
PKR will likely contest four other seats, three of which it currently holds while one (Nibong Tebal) was “lost” to Perikatan Nasional (PN) through the Sheraton Move defections. Two more seats held by Barisan Nasional are expected to be allocated to Amanah.
According to insiders, the DAP-held federal seats where candidate changes may be made include Batu Kawan, currently held by DAP’s Kasthuri Patto. She may be replaced by Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy, who has so far defended the Prai state seat for three terms.
Party insiders say Kashturi may be relocated to her birth state, Perak, to contest there, as PH targets the silver state as a frontline battleground for GE15.
The Indian vote, meanwhile, is also seen as crucial in Penang because of a perception that the Malays are predominantly predisposed towards BN and PN, while the Chinese are loyal to PH, or rather DAP, in Penang.
As such, there is speculation on whether first-term Bagan Dalam assemblyman Satees Muniandy will remain at the state level or be moved to a parliamentary seat.
State line-up, chief minister candidate are also factors
Part of refreshing PH’s appeal to Penang voters is the chief minister candidate, and even though state polls will not be held concurrently with GE15, this consideration will likely factor into candidate selection for parliamentary seats.
As such, there are also questions regarding two incumbent state assemblymen – Zairil Khir Johari (Tanjung Bungah) and Chris Lee Chun Kit (Pulau Tikus) – with either one speculated for a swap with Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai.
Wong is seen by some quarters as a potential future chief minister after current Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow completes his second term. Penang in 2018 passed a motion in the assembly to limit the chief minister’s tenure to two terms.
From the mainland, there is also speculation that Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim Chee Keong may be relocated to a state seat. Like Wong, some also say he is seen as chief minister material.
Chow, meanwhile, recently confirmed to Chinese-language media that he will only contest in one seat – likely a state seat. He is currently the incumbent for the Padang Kota state seat as well as the Tanjong parliamentary seat.
Should he give up Tanjong, this would leave room for Senator Lim Hui Ling, the younger sister of DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng, to possibly contest as a parliamentary candidate in Penang.
It also remains to be seen if Guan Eng will contest at both state and federal levels. He is currently the incumbent for the Air Puteh seat state and the Bagan parliamentary seat.
Political scientist Sivamurugan Pandian said political parties would want to refresh their candidate line-ups to avoid stagnation. Parties would also do well to heed voters’ calls for renewal and change, or risk defeat as Gerakan and MCA did.
Sivamurugan added that PH needs to field young candidates in view of the more than six million new, young and automatically registered voters enfranchised for GE15.
The young, he noted, will have different expectations than their elders, and communicate more through social media instead of attending political ceramahs.
Besides young candidates, PH must also field capable ones who will not only serve and administer state or federal governments, but will be able to offer solutions to larger challenges such as the cost of living, climate change and public healthcare.
For Penang, candidates must also be able to address worsening traffic congestion, Sivamurugan added.
DAP currently holds seven parliamentary seats in the state: Bagan, Batu Mertajam, Batu Kawan, Bukit Bendera, Tanjong, Jelutong and Bukit Gelugor. – The Vibes, October 20, 2022
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