And now, Gerakan too may contest in Cameron Highlands

CAMERON POLLS | Gerakan, which describes itself as an independent political party since leaving BN in June last year, is likely to contest in the coming Cameron Highlands by-election.

A party source said Gerakan may field its Cameron Highlands deputy division chairperson Dr Eddie Edward Tharmaraj as the candidate in the by-election, as he had expressed interest in standing for the polls.

Gerakan president Dominic Lau (photo, above) had earlier purportedly not allowed him to do, according to the source.

"Eddie tendered his resignation (from the party) after the president refused to allow him to contest," the source told Malaysiakini.

Malaysiakini sighted the resignation letter, dated Jan 8, 2019, in which Eddie stated that he is resigning from the party with immediate effect, as well as relinquishing all his party posts, including his post as an appointed central committee member.

However, Eddie sent another letter shortly after, dated Jan 10, 2019, informing the party that he is withdrawing his resignation letter.

"I, upon discussion with senior party members and also the president of party Gerakan, am withdrawing (my resignation) letter from the party dated Jan 8, 2019.

"(I am) also withdrawing the resignation from the various posts entrusted to me by the party and pledge to serve and contribute to Gerakan more dedicatedly in order to serve the rakyat in these trying times," he said in the letter, which was also sighted by Malaysiakini.

Reason for sudden withdrawal

The sudden withdrawal of Eddie’s resignation letter, the source said, is probably because the party president had agreed to field him as a candidate in the Cameron Highlands by-election.

BN had yesterday announced its candidate, former top police officer Ramli Mohd Nor, an Orang Asli from Cameron Highlands. He will be contesting as a BN direct candidate.

DAP, meanwhile, will be fielding M Manogaran in the by-election. This will be Manogaran's third time contesting the seat.

Disputed MyPPP president M Kayveas had also announced he would be contesting the seat.

The Cameron Highlands parliamentary constituency comprises 22 percent Orang Asli voters and 34 percent Malays, Chinese 30 percent and Indians 15 percent.

The seat was won in the 14th general election by MIC's C Sivarraajh, with a slim 597-vote majority.

However, the seat was declared vacant by the Election Court in November last year, after it was determined that corrupt practices led to BN's win.

Although MIC did not appeal the Election Court's declaration of the seat as vacant, Sivaraajh challenged the Election Commission's (EC) decision to disallow him from contesting there again and disallowing him from voting in any election for the next five years.

In its ruling yesterday, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur dismissed Sivarraajh’s challenge against the both the EC’s orders.

Nomination day for the by-election is this Saturday. Early voting is on Jan 22 while polling day is Jan 26. - Mkini