Uproar over DAP’s candidates’ list

(NST) – First, it was the voices of dissent in the Perak Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) camp over the choice of several candidates for the 13th General Election and now, the state DAP has joined the fray.

Yesterday, supporters of former first-term Jalong assemblyman Leong Mee Meng turned the heat on state DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and his cousin, Nga Kor Ming, who is state party secretary, for axing Leong from the candidates’ list.

They held a protest outside the state DAP headquarters here, demanding an explanation from the party’s four-member selection committee on why Leong was dropped.

Similar protests were also held in Sungai Siput and Kuala Kangsar to pressure the party leadership to “re-instate” Leong.

At the protest, Sungai Siput DAP division vice-chairman Seok Loy, 49, said the people could not understand why Leong was removed when she had served the constituency well.

“We reject the new candidate as we have never seen him before,” he said, adding that the candidate, Loh Sze Yee, was not named by the division.

Loh was unveiled as a candidate by Ngeh on Thursday evening.

Besides Leong, candidates who were not aligned with the state leadership had either been dropped or moved to parliamentary seats.

DAP life member Tan Ju Kong, 75, said he was disappointed with the party leadership for not re-nominating Leong.

The visibly upset Tan tore up his membership card in front of reporters.

Tan, who blamed Ngeh and Nga for the issue, said Leong had served her constituents well.

“I will not vote for DAP this time around as I cannot accept a helicopter candidate.”

When contacted, Leong said she was a victim of factionalism within the party.

The protest came hot on the heels of similar protests nationwide against the DAP leadership over its choice of candidates.

Political analyst Dr P. Sivamurugan said this was an “unfamiliar” trend in the DAP’s ranks as they were known to toe the line in the past.

“This is happening because the members think they are in better shape compared with 2008. It is a case of overconfidence.

“Back in 2008, not many people wanted to become a candidate because the confidence level was very low.

“It will certainly affect the unity within Pakatan Rakyat.

“In fact, in some areas, we may even see a Barisan Nasional candidate facing two candidates from DAP and PKR.”