PCM to contest in 15 Penang constituencies
By Athi Shankar, Free Malaysia Today
GEORGE TOWN:Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) has earmarked three parliamentary and 15 state constituencies for its electoral debut in Penang in the next general election.
The three federal seats are Jelutong, Bukit Gelugor and Bukit Bendera constituencies, all currently being held by DAP representatives Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun, Karpal Singh and Liew Chin Tong respectively.
The state seats earmarked are Komtar (under Tanjung federal seat), Sungai Pinang and Batu Lanchang (Jelutong), Tanjung Bunga, Pulau Tikus and Air Putih (Bukit Bendera), and Air Itam and Seri Delima (Bukit Gelugor), all on the island.
On the mainland Seberang Perai, PCM plans to contest Sungai Puyu and Bagan Jermal (Bagan), Prai, Bukit Tambun and Bukit Tengah (Batu Kawan), Padang Lallang (Bukit Mertajam) and Jawi (Nibong Tebal).
All, but two seats, are currently being held by DAP state representatives.
Only Bukit Tambun and Bukit Tengah are being held by PKR assemblymen.
In disclosing this, PCM’s Penang special action team chief Junior Tham Weng Fatt said the party decided to jump into the electoral fray because it wanted to offer the people a third choice.
He said the party would finalise its list of candidates soon.
“We will field candidates with the best chance of winning in each seat,” Tham said.
He claims that based on the ground swell, PCM had an outside chance to cause an upset in the next general election in Penang, despite strong DAP presence.
Unhappy fence-sitters
He claimed that many fence-sitters were unhappy with the performance of both Pakatan Rakyat state government and Barisan Nasional opposition.
“We want to project ourselves as a viable alternative to fish the fence-sitters,” he told FMT.
