Fong not contesting in GE13

The Batu Gajah MP cited personal reasons for her decision and said that she had informed of her intentions to Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh in September.

G Vinod, FMT

Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan will not be contesting for any seat in the 13th general election.

She cited personal reasons for her sudden departure from mainstream politics.

“I have informed party adviser and chairman, Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh, of my intention way back in September itself,” Fong said in a statement.

However, she vowed to play her role as a DAP leader to ensure Pakatan Rakyat captures federal power in the general election.

She also conveyed her appreciation to the party and voters of the Batu Gajah parliamentary constituency for giving her the opportunity to serve them since 1999.

“I would like to thank reporters and civil servants who have assisted me in serving my constituents over the years,” said Fong.

On what is her future plans, Fong said with a chuckle, “Look for a job.”

Fong won the Batu Gajah parliamentary seat for the first time in 1999 general election,  held after  the sacking of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Not only was she the youngest elected MP then, Fong also won the seat with a majority of over 2,000 votes.

Since then, Fong has made her mark as an outspoken MP and even earned the monicker “cili padi”.

However, Fong almost quit politics in the run-up to the 2008 general election but was persuaded to stay on by Lim.

It was said that she made the decision after having a fallout with the Perak DAP leadership.

On March 25, several DAP members, on condition of anonymity, alleged that the Perak DAP leadership would be sending Fong to contest in Johor, in an attempt to bury her political career.