JOHOR POLLS | Johor DAP is embroiled in an internal tussle over the selection of candidates, which might impede its chances in the March 12 state election.
Since last week, speculation has been rife that several incumbent assemblypersons would be dropped.
Initially, those rumored to be on the chopping board were Tan Hong Pin (Skudai), Ng Yak Howe (Bentayan), Ee Chin Li (Tangkak), Cheo Yee How (Perling) and Yeo Tung Siong (Pekan Nanas).
The quintet is considered not aligned to Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong.
On Feb 6, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng announced that Ee would defend his seat, but the fate of the others remains unknown.
As news of the possible axing spread, DAP grassroots in Johor organised several protests and flash mobs to register their disagreement.
On Tuesday, a group of DAP members from the Iskandar Puteri parliamentary constituency invited Liew to dialogue with them in Skudai.
When the Johor DAP chief did not turn up, he incurred the wrath of members.
The Facebook live video of the event had zoomed in on an empty chair with Liew's name on it.
"We are not here to fight or kill each other. We just want to express our views. Let's hope he will turn up.
"I was forced to do this Facebook live while waiting for him," said Johor DAP Youth member Shawn Tan Boon Kuang.
Bad blood since 2018 party election
It is an open secret that there are two factions in Johor DAP - led by Liew and Hong Pin respectively – and the bad blood between them has existed since the state party polls in 2018.
Amid the speculation that he might be dropped as a candidate, Hong Pin last week openly asked Liew if the latter's decision was due to their squabble.
According to him, Liew had personally informed him that he would not be fielded in Skudai again.
Hong Pin cautioned that DAP could not afford to make major changes to its list of candidates when the public sentiment is not in favour of the opposition or Pakatan Harapan.
"However, the state chief (Liew) told me that he will take responsibility if anything goes wrong in the state election," he said, according to a China Press report on Feb 4.
In a Facebook posting today, Liew confirmed that Hong Pin would not be fielded in Skudai.
He added that Hong Pin was instead offered the Labis parliamentary seat in the next general election.
"In the past, when state and federal elections were held concurrently, it was common for parties to switch candidates from state to federal seats and vice versa.
"Some observers even consider it an 'elevation' when a state assemblyperson is slated for Parliament.
"Even when state and federal elections are now separated, the fundamentals remain the same," he added.
Therefore, Liew argued that Hong Pin is not being dropped but rather being groomed to become a candidate for Labis.
Malaysiakini learnt that DAP's central leadership has intervened with the hope of resolving the crisis before nomination day on Feb 26.
- Mkini
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