DAP to retain most of its reps in NS
Loke Siew Fook, the party’s chief in the state, may move to the risky seat of Chennah.
Zefry Dahalan, FMT
SEREMBAN: Negeri Sembilan DAP looks set to retain most of the candidates the party fielded in the 2008 election.
So far, the names of seven candidates for state seats have been mentioned at low-profile functions held in the respective constituencies. State DAP chief Loke Siew Fook said these names were among those submitted to party headquarters.
Topping the list is Loke himself, who will contest in Chennah, the only state seat DAP did not win out of the eleven it contested in 2008. It is a bold move for Loke, who is leaving his Lobak constituency for the risky seat.
Besides Lobak, DAP also won the state seats of Temiang, Nilai, Kepayang, Rahang, Mambau, Senawang, Lukut, Repah and Bahau in 2008. It also won both the parliament seats it contested for—Seremban and Rasah.
Chennah remains the toughest seat for DAP to capture because of the high number of Malay voters there. They account for 45.03% of the electorate. The Chinese represent 52.52% and the Indians 2.45%.
Lobak would be much safer for Loke. The Chinese make up 74.51% of voters there, the Indians 20.23% and the Malays only 5.15%.
State DAP legal bureau chief Siow Kim Leong is expected to replace Loke in Lobak. Cha Kee Chin and Ng Chin Tsai will be retained in Bukit Kepayang and Temiang respectively. Cha is the secretary of Negeri Sembilan DAP.
Deputy state DAP chief P Gunasekaran will defend his racially mixed state seat of Senawang. The electorate there is composed of 53.50% Chinese, 23.54% Indians and 22.95% Malays.
S Veerapan and Ean Yong Tin Sin will go for another term in Repah and Lukut respectively.
DAP national youth chief Teo Kok Seong is likely to stand in Bahau again.
However, the party may field new faces for three state seats.
