Dropped PKR man says replacement will lose, so will holiday instead

GE14 | Tan Kee Kwong has not taken kindly to being dropped as PKR candidate for the Wangsa Maju, and lashed out at his replacement, Tan Yee Kew.

The incumbent MP claimed that Yee Kew will lose anywhere she contests, and declared that he will go on a "holiday" instead of assisting her for the 14th general election.

"I can't understand why the party didn't choose me and instead chose someone who loses anywhere she goes.

"Is Yee Kew more qualified than me? She has not been active in Kuala Lumpur. Does such a person have a winning chance?" he was quoted as saying by Sin Chew Daily.

According to Kee Kwong, he is still puzzled at the cut, given that Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad had been campaigning for him at a ceramah in Wangsa Maju just last week.

The incumbent MP also suggested that Yee Kew was already "strong" enough, and would not need any help.

“As far as I know, Yee Kew has no grassroots support in Wangsa Maju.

"There's no one who will assist her in Wangsa Maju. Perhaps she will invite former MCA members from Segambut to campaign for her," he was quoted as saying.

Both Kee Kwong and Yee Kew (photo) were former BN leaders who joined PKR after it made unprecedented gains in the 2008 general election.

Kee Kwong was the former Federal Territories Gerakan chief, while Yee Kew was a former MCA central committee member.

In the 2004 general election, Kee Kwong was elected the Segambut MP while Yee Kew was the Klang MP. Neither contested in the 2008 general election.  

After joining PKR, Kee Kwong was fielded in Wangsa Maju in the 2013 general election won by a 5,511-vote majority.

Yee Kew was fielded in Tanjong Malim but lost to the BN's Ong Ka Chuan by 4,328 votes.

In a separate Sin Chew Daily report, Yee Kew defended her record in Wangsa Maju.

Yee Kew pointed to her service centre in the area being established over a year ago, and the training of 300 volunteers as polling agents for the coming election. - Mkini