DAP: Speculation on Po Kuan UNFOUNDED

IPOH- The state DAP leadership has denied speculation that former Batu Gajah member of parliament Fong Po Kuan's decision not to contest in the coming general election is due to the latter's differences with it.

Dispelling the speculation as unfounded, Perak DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said Fong's decision not to defend her Batu Gajah parliamentary seat was due to her own personal reasons.

"Dispute or in-fighting within the Perak leadership is not the reason behind her decision. I, and the other leaders, have no quarrels with her.

"(Furthermore), as she has pointed out herself, the reasons are personal in nature," he told reporters at the state DAP headquarters here after the launch of Perak Pakatan Rakyat's slogan for the coming general election.

He said the state leadership took cognisance of her contributions since 1999 when she was elected as Batu Gajah MP, adding that Fong was a remarkable MP.

"She had served her constituents well and had strengthened the DAP during her tenure as MP for Batu Gajah. The Perak DAP wholeheartedly wishes to thank her for the services that she has rendered to the party over the years.

"At the same time, I wish her the best in her future endeavours. She is still a party member and I believe she will continue to work for the party in other ways," he said.

Fong, a three-term MP, announced on Wednesday that she would not be contesting any seat in the elections because of personal reasons.

Earlier, Ngeh, joined by Perak PKR chief Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty, launched the Perak Pakatan Rakyat's new slogan of "Kerajaan Baru, Harapan Baru... Ini Kalilah (New Government, New Hope... This Is The Time)

He said the slogan would be printed on red t-shirts which would be worn by PR politicians and workers during the campaign period.

On another, Ngeh called on public transport providers especially bus companies and KTM Berhad to increase their travel frequency and offer cheaper tickets to passengers near the polling day.

He said thousands of voters working in Singapore, Johor and Kuala Lumpur were expected to return to their home states to vote.

However, he pointed out that there were already complaints from voters working out of Perak that they could not return home to vote due to unavailability of buses.

"The Perak DAP urges bus companies and KTM to increase the frequency of services so that outstation voters could return to their home states to vote.

"We also urge them to reduce their fare during that period," he said, adding that taxi drivers could also chip in by reducing their fare when ferrying passengers to voting centres.

- New Straits Times