DAP's Er Teck Hwa says won't defend Bakri seat

Bakri's two-term parliamentarian Er Teck Hwa from the DAP today said he will not be seeking a third term for the Johor seat at the next polls.

It is learnt that Damansara Utama assemblyperson Yeo Bee Yin will replace him and the announcement will be made this Saturday.

Er was the second DAP MP in the party's history in Johor to have won a seat after defeating an MCA candidate in the 2008 general election by a majority of 428. He won by a higher majority of 5,067 in the 2013 polls.

The first Johor DAP MP was veteran Lee Kaw, who was elected 40 years ago in Kluang and subsequently defeated in the 1982 general election.

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament building, Er thanked his party's central leadership for allowing him to serve as the Bakri representative for the past 10 years.

"I will not stand in Bakri for the 14th general election. I thank the party for giving me the chance."

"If I offended anybody during my term, I sincerely apologise,” the 45-year-old said, dismissing rumours that he was under pressure to not defend his seat.

"My purpose in having this press conference is to dismiss reports saying I was pressured to leave Bakri," he said. No party leaders were present at Er's press conference.

Er called on Bakri voters to continue their support for DAP and Pakatan Harapan and their candidate.

However, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang declined to elaborate on the matter when queried.

"You have to ask the (DAP) secretary-general (Lim Guan Eng)," the Gelang Patah MP told reporters.  -Mkini