Kamarul in Ampangan, heart break for Rafie

After a long wait, PKR finally revealed its candidates for Negeri Sembilan where a popular candidate was not picked.

SEREMBAN: Negeri Sembilan PKR chief Kamarul Baharin Abbas will be defending his Teluk Kemang parliamentary seat and will contest in the Ampangan state seat as well.

The decision to place him at the Ampangan state seat is to allow him to become the state menteri besar in the event Pakatan Rakyat wins the state in the May 5 general election.

Kamarul Baharin’s decision to contest in Ampangan is bad news for the popular Seremban PKR deputy chief Dr Mohamad Rafie Abdul Malek who had served the constituency for the past four years following Ampangan incumbent state rep Rashid Latiff’s illness.

Rafie could not be reached for his comment.

Speaking to the media after announcing the PKR candidates’ list for the state, Kamarul Baharin said the decision to make him contest in Ampangan was made by the party leadership, and that it was a last minute decision.

“Candidates are proposed by divisions, state and party headquarters. However the final decision is made by party headquarters (top leadership).

“Not all proposals come from the divisions, there are some proposals that come directly from the party leadership.

“Like my candidacy for the state seat (Ampangan), nobody proposed (from the divisions) but the decision was from the party leadership,” said Kamarul.

He also said that the delay in announcing the candidates list was due to some technical reasons.

“Delaying in announcing the candidates is not a problem but what is important is we have credible candidates to challenge the Barisan Nasional candidates.”

Earlier speculations that another popular candidate M Ravi would be dropped proved wrong when he was picked to defend his Port Dickson state seat.

Below is the full list of PKR candidates in Negeri Sembilan:

ParliamentTelok Kemang – Kamarul Baharin Abbas
Rembau – Radzali Abdul Ghani
Kuala Pilah – Mohd Nazree Mohd Yunus

StatePertang – Muhammad Syamwill Mertadza
Palong – Rebin Birham
Jeram Padang – T Kumar
Sikamat – Aminuddin Harun
Ampangan – Kamarul Baharin Abbas
Juasseh – Rosli Omar
Seri Menanti – Tengku Zamrah Tengku Sulaiman
Pilah – Mohamad Nazaruddin Sabtu
Rantau – Aisah Lamsah
Chuah – Chai Tong Chai
Linggi – Rosman Jonet
Port Dickson – M Ravi
Gemas – Karip Mohd Salleh

DAP’s Loke faces off with Dr Yeow
Meanwhile, state DAP has placed state party chairman Anthony Loke to contest in Seremban parliamentary seat where he will face the state MCA chief Dr Yeow Chai Thiam.

Loke won the Rasah parliament seat in 2008 when he, interestingly, defeated Dr Yeow by 13,151 votes.

The Seremban seat was won by DAP’s John Fernandez in 2008 and following his dropping this time around, he has decided to contest as an independent.

Loke will also be shifting his state seat from Lobak to Chennah, which was the only seat the party lost in 2008.

Below is the full list of DAP candidates in Negeri Sembilan:

ParliamentSeremban – Loke Siew Fook
Rasah – Teo Kok seong

StateTemiang – Ng Chin Tsai
Lobak –Siow Kim Leong
Nilai – J Arul Kumar
Bukit Kepayang – Cha Kee Chin
Senawang – P Gunasekaran
Mambau – Yap Yew Weng
Rahang – Mary Josephine
Lukut – Ean Yong Tin Sin
Repah – S Veerapan
Bahau – Chew Seh Yong
Chennah – Loke Siew Fook