GE13: Fernandez: Segamat surrender an act of treachery

(The Star) - An “act of betrayal and treachery.” That's how DAP state deputy chairman Norman Fernandezdescribed the surrender of the Segamat parliamentary seat to PKR.

“(DAP secretary-general) Lim Guan Eng must be answerable to party members in Segamat and Johor for this,” he said when commenting on the announcement by PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that Johor PKRchairman Datuk Chua Jui Meng would be the opposition front's candidate in Segamat.

Norman's remarks came after the disbanding of Johor DAP candidates' selection committee, of which he was a member together with state chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau and secretary Tan Chen Choon.

Segamat which has more than 47,000 voters and encompasses the state seats of Jementah and Buloh Kasap, is regarded as DAP's “traditional” seat in Johor.

Norman said the hand over of Segamat to PKR proved that the decision of the selection team to disband was correct and justified.

It is understood the panel had faced criticism over the way in which the party leadership “parachute” candidates at the expense of diehard local campaigners.

Among those who opposed the move were Johor DAP vice-chairman Ong Kow Meng and Mengkibol assemblyman Ng Lam Hua, who was reported to be dropped to make way for state Youth chief Tan Hong Pin.

Tan, who was earlier slated for the Pekan Nenas state seat, is expected to be moved to Mengkibol to help secure votes for prospective Kluang parliamentary candidate Liew Chin Tong, the incumbent Bukit Bendera MP in Penang.

Norman said Chua had no desire to contest a state seat, proving that he was a state chairman who had neither the confidence nor the gumption to contest any seat allocated to his party.

“Instead, he only covets DAP seats. This speaks volumes about the candidate for Segamat,” he said.

Human Resources Minister and MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam has been the MP for Segamat Barisan Nasional since 2004.

Dr Boo said PKR should give up one of its parliamentary seats as a replacement for Segamat.

He said DAP would only contest six parliamentary seats in Johor compared with 12 by PKR, with PAS taking eight seats.

A total of 26 parliamentary seats and 56 state seats are up for grabs in Johor.

Among the parliamentary seats PKR would be contesting are Johor Baru, Tebrau, Batu Pahat, Muar, and Segamat while Gelang Patah and Kluang would be contested by DAP.