GE13: Many unhappy over parachute candidates

(The Star) – The move by PKR to field parachute “strategic candidates” in Johor has created rumblings among local leaders and grassroots in the state.

At least three seats are expected to be contested by outsiders namely Johor Baru, Batu Pahat and Pasir Gudang.

Several PKR leaders in Batu Pahat have even set up a Facebook page “Support Syed Hamid Ali for Batu Pahat” after talk surfaced that an NGO leader Datuk Idris Jauzi may be fielded there.

Syed Hamid is the Batu Pahat PKR chief.

PKR Johor Baru division chief Tan Poh Lai is expected to be snubbed for the Johor Baru parliamentary seat in favour of former army chief Tan Sri Hashim Hussein while Johor PKR deputy chief Dr Ahmad Faidhi Saidi is likely to be overlooked for the Pasir Gudang seat with former army deputy chief Datuk Ghafir Abdul Hamid tipped to contest there.

In their Facebook postings, Syed Hamid’s supporters said they would reject a parachute candidate.

“Macam mana boleh potong jalan? (How can you cut queue?) Syed Hamid has been serving the people in Batu Pahat for years,” Tan Leok Soo posted on the page.

A large poster stating that Batu Pahat PKR rejected parachute candidates was also posted on the page with a long thread of supportive comments and likes for the post.

Tan, who is also the state PKR treasurer and deputy Wanita chief, confirmed that she has been asked to step aside for Hashim due to “strategic reasons”.

“I do not mind that the leadership wants to field another candidate for this seat but I hope they will allocate a seat for a woman candidate,” she said.

Her elder brother Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong has been slotted by PKR to contest the Wangsa Maju parliamentary seat in Kuala Lumpur.