Lee has decent shot at defending PJ under Bersama, says Ong

 This is however contingent on the candidate that PKR chooses in GE16, according to the former DAP MP.

DAP’s Ong Kian Ming (left) believes that most Petaling Jaya residents would be happy to give Lee Chean Chung a second term as their MP.

PETALING JAYA:

DAP’s Ong Kian Ming believes that Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung stands a “decent chance” of retaining the parliamentary seat for a second term, even if he contests under Parti Bersama Malaysia.

However, he said, this depends on the candidate that PKR chooses in the next general election, assuming that it does not nominate Lee.

Ong expects PKR to drop Lee in GE16 since the first-term MP is perceived as an ally of former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, who yesterday announced that he would take over Bersama.

Ong, a former Bangi MP, said Lee, whom he voted for in the 2022 general election, has fulfilled his responsibilities well thus far by speaking up on issues while also being present on the ground.

“If Lee chooses to contest under Bersama, and if PKR chooses a relatively unknown candidate, he stands a decent chance of winning, even in a multi-cornered fight against Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional candidates.

“I personally find Lee to be a compelling MP candidate for Petaling Jaya (in GE16). I think I know Petaling Jaya well enough to say that many other voters, regardless of race, would also feel the same,” he said in a Facebook post.

Lee has been an elected representative since 2013, first serving as Semambu assemblyman in Pahang from 2013 to 2022. He was elected Petaling Jaya MP in 2022.

In the PKR polls last year, he lost the Petaling Jaya division chief’s post but managed to be elected to the party’s central leadership council.

Yesterday, former ministers Rafizi and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad announced that they would be taking over Bersama to chart a new political direction for themselves and their supporters. Lee attended the press conference.

Five PKR MPs – Rodziah Ismail (Ampang), Bakhtiar Wan Chik (Balik Pulau), Wong Chen (Subang), S Kesavan (Sungai Siput) and Zahir Hassan (Wangsa Maju) – also appeared in a photo session with the duo. - FMT