Boo's fate in limbo after DAP fields his protégé in Skudai

GE14 | Johor DAP veteran Boo Cheng Hau's fate is in limbo after DAP announced that his disciple Tan Hong Pin would contest his Skudai state seat in the 14th general election.

Tan was announced as the Skudai candidate by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng at the end of a ceramah in Batu Pahat tonight.

Lim declined to comment if Boo had been dropped from the Johor DAP election line-up completely, and skirted around a question on whether he would contest a parliamentary seat instead.

"You write the news today and I will have a press conference tomorrow," he said.

Boo had previously rejected an offer for him to contest the Labis parliamentary seat.

When contacted, Boo insisted he will not go to Labis and was "disappointed" that Tan had been fielded in his seat.

However, he said he would not contest Skudai as an independent candidate.

He also declined to comment on whether he would help Tan during the campaign period.

Meanwhile, Tan denied that contesting in Skudai would put him at odds with his sifu (teacher).

"This is not student against sifu, just a change of candidate," he said.

He also said that the grassroots in Skudai are mature enough to accept the party's decision to field him in the seat.

Tan joined DAP in 2004 and served as Boo’s assistant for years. However, their relationship changed after GE13.

During the Johor DAP election in 2014, incumbent Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong contested against Boo for the state leadership. But instead of supporting his master, Tan became one of Liew’s lieutenants instead.

Besides Tan's candidacy, Lim also announced that the incumbent Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching, as well as incumbent Jementah state rep Tan Chen Choon, incumbent Yong Peng assemblyperson Chew Peck Choo, and Penggaram incumbent Gan Peck Cheng, would all be defending their seats.

While he has been replaced in Skudai, Boo may still make the cut for the DAP's Johor team.

DAP still has three parliament seats, namely Labis, Kluang, and Iskandar Puteri - formerly known as Gelang Patah - and two state seats Mengkibol, and Bekok, for whom candidates have yet to be announced.

The party is expected to announce its candidate for Kluang and Mengkibol tomorrow. - Mkini