GE13: Opposition hits snag in Johor

(The Star) – Adding a further dent on Pakatan Rakyat’s lofty hopes is the sudden “disappearance” of Johor PKR chief Datuk Chua Jui Meng, who was not named as candidate for the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat which the latter had been lobbying for.

Adding a further dent on Pakatan Rakyat’s lofty hopes is the sudden “disappearance” of Johor PKR chief Datuk Chua Jui Meng, who was not named as candidate for the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat which the latter had been lobbying for.

PKR officials do not where Chua is or what he is up to, with some saying that he is on “protest leave” to show his displeasure at being overlooked for the seat.

Chua was absent at the event when Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim introduced DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang as the Gelang Patah candidate last Monday.

Chua’s griping aside, DAP’s Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan has said that she will not contest in the southern state.

Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran, another of DAP’s leaders said to have been identified to contest in Johor, has not opposed the proposal publicly but party insiders say he had voiced his preference not to follow Lim to Johor.

Sources said Fong and Kulasegaran, who have clashed with Perak DAPchairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and secretary Nga Kor Ming, have been identified to contest in Kluang or Kulai, and Segamat, respectively.

Johor Jaya PKR branch chief and legal bureau head Jimmy Puah said many were questioning Chua’s disappearance from state PKR events with the general election drawing near.

“We are having mixed feelings as we are excited about campaigning for the general election but it affects our morale when the leader is not around,” he said, adding that he had heard that Chua was “on leave” in Kuala Lumpur.

Fong, whose husband is Johor DAP secretary Tan Chen Choon, told The Star yesterday that she would not contest in Johor.

“As I have said many times before, speculation that I will be fielded in Johor is not true and is just a rumour,” she said.

Kulasegaran, a DAP vice-chairman, said he would leave it to the party to decide where he should contest.

“I have not been informed of any decision on where I will contest,” he added.