DAP to defend 16 state seats in Selangor

DAP will defend all the 16 state seats it won in the 14th general election (GE14) in next month’s state elections, said Selangor DAP secretary Ng Sze Han.

He said Pakatan Harapan and BN agreed to the distribution of seats.

“DAP is confident of maintaining its momentum to retain all the seats it won in GE14," Ng (above) told Bernama in an exclusive interview recently.

The 16 seats won by DAP are Sekinchan, Kuala Kubu Baharu, Teratai, Dusun Tua, Balakong, Seri Kembangan, Kinrara, Subang Jaya, Bukit Gasing, Kampung Tunku, Bandar Utama, Bandar Baru Klang, Pandamaran, Kota Kemuning, Banting, and Sungai Pelek.

However, DAP lost one seat when Teratai state assemblyperson Bryan Lai Wai Chong quit the party to become an independent in 2021 before joining Warisan last year.

Ng, who was an executive councillor in charge of local government, public transport and new village development before the Selangor state assembly was dissolved, said he is ready to defend the Kinrara seat that he held for two terms.

“If given a chance (to contest) in Kinrara, yes. But again, I have to leave it to the party to make the final decision. I always stress that all these 16 seats do not belong to individuals but to DAP and Harapan,” he added.

Prior to the dissolution of the state assembly on June 23, Harapan held 40 seats - PKR (19), DAP (15), Amanah (six) - BN (five), Bersatu (four), Parti Bangsa Malaysia (two), PAS, Pejuang and Warisan had one each, and Independent (one).

The Batang Kali seat was declared vacant last February after its assemblyperson skipped the state assembly sittings for more than six months.

Selangor Harapan chairperson Amirudin Shari had said earlier that BN would contest in more than 20 percent of the 56 state seats and Harapan in the rest.

Selangor, Kedah, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Negeri Sembilan will go to the polls on Aug 12, with nominations set for July 29 and early voting on Aug 8.

- Bernama