PKR, DAP In Tussle For Johor Seats?
BAHARU– Indications are that there is a tussle between PKR and DAP in Johor over the seats the parties should contest in the state in the next general election.
However, this was denied by PKR Johor chairman Datuk Chua Jui Meng when contacted by Bernama on the matter.
"It is normal. DAP Johor wants PKR Johor seats and vice versa. Discussions are ongoing. Nevertheless, we have to abide by the decision of the central leadership. That's party discipline," Chua said.
The former health minister said that generally the number of seats to be contested by PKR Johor in the next general election would be the same as in the last general election, in 2008.
One of the seats said to be eyed by both PKR and DAP is the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat held by MCA's Tan Ah Heng of the Barisan Nasional (BN).
The PKR fielded a candidate in Gelang Patah in the general elections of 2008 and 2004 but indications are that DAP is eyeing the seat this time round.
DAP seems confident that its candidate has a better chance of wresting the seat from the BN because the party holds Skudai, one of the two state seats within the Gelang Patah parliamentary constituency.
DAP Johor chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau is the Skudai assemblyman and, according to DAP Johor, he is popular among the local people and has an excellent service record.
The other seat within Gelang Patah is Nusajaya, which houses the state government administrative centre.
Chua is highly confident that the DAP can wrest Gelang Patah from the BN.
"No one can read the sentiments of the people in an election," he said, adding that the central leadership of the opposition pact has yet to determine the candidate for Gelang Patah.
Asked about speculation by political observers that he himself may be fielded in Gelang Patah, Chua said there is also speculation of him contesting in any one of several other constituencies as well.
Besides Gelang Patah, it is also claimed that the DAP and PKR are in a tussle for the Johor Jaya state seat held by Tan Cher Puk of the MCA.
In the general election in 2008, Johor Jaya was contested by Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), which has since merged with PKR.
On the chances of the opposition pact in Johor in the next general election, Chua said the opposition has a good chance to create political history in the state and win at least 29 seats to form the state government.
Johor, which is a BN stronghold, has 26 parliamentary and 56 state seats.
– BERNAMA
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