A big DAP loss to let Marina who can bridge Malay, Chinese electorate to just walk out from politics?

 

JOHOR DAP chairwoman Teo Nie Ching has apparently been snubbed for overlooking the value Skudai state assemblywoman Marina Ibrahin has brought to the party, particularly her ability to win the hearts of her Malay electorate in her debutant term despite the wide perception of DAP as a “kafir” (infidel) party.

This follows the leakage of an internal exchange dated May 30 between Marina and the National Wanita DAP chief which ultimately led the 38-year-old Marina to not wanting to contest in the upcoming Johor state poll and to eventually quit  politics.

Apparently, the Chinese media has exposed how Marina – one of DAP’s nine Malay state assemblymen and three MPs – saw a bleak  political future after Teo who is also the Kulai MP “instructed her to contest in the Tiram state constituency instead”.

“Come on … it’s not difficult to understand …. Skudai is indeed a non-Malay majority seat. It has been 31 years since the Chinese held the Skudai seat. All the (previous) state assemblymen are Chinese,” reacted digital creator Nabeel Naqie Six in a Facebook post.

It has been four terms since DAP held Skudai. In the 2022 Johor state election, Marina was the first Malay to win in Skudai.

Marina was able to contest because (DAP supremo Tan Sri Lim) Kit Siang accorded her a safe constituency and instructed Chinese voters to vote for a Malays of DAPig (political slur). Only then can we see that DAPig has a Malay leader. 

Editor’s Note: The Chinese media revelation was courtesy of mathematics and history author Megat Hisemudin Megat Kasim who himself studied at Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University.

“Chinese newspapers revealed that the reason why Skudai state assemblywoman Marina Ibrahim didn’t want to contest to retain the Skudai state seat was because she was instructed by Teo to move to the Tiram seat held by BN (Barisan Nasional),” shared the old pupil of SJKC Chung Hwa Parit.

Crediting Marina, Nabeel praised her for having taken care of her constituency seriously with the exception of “DAPigs wanting to claim back Skudai (their safe seat) for its Chinese candidates. ”

“Marina was told to contest in Tiram. A traditional UMNO stronghold.  Imagine Skudai is an urban locale with 54.5% Chinese population (Malay 31.5%) while Tiram is a FELDA kampung with 60.1% Malay majority (Chinese 32.8%),” justified the influencer who detests populist politics

“It’s a suicide mission for Marina. She should run away. ”

Suicide mission aside, Teo’s contention that she would propose Marina as “chairman of a statutory body” should outcome of the Johor state poll did not favour her also left a sour note on both DAP loyalists and detractors alike.

“Johor DAP deeply appreciates leaders who are willing to make bold tactical moves for the party and we’ll always do our level best to walk through challenging terrains with them, especially when outcomes are uncertain,” penned the Deputy Communications Minister in a trilingual FB post.

“If the offer to contest in a new seat has upset Marina in any way, I would like to officially record my regrets. It is, however, my responsibility as the Johor DAP Johor chairwoman to formulate the best possible strategy for the party facing the upcoming Johor state poll.”

“If the offer to contest in a new seat has upset Marina in any way, I would like to officially record my regrets. It is, however, my responsibility as the Johor DAP chairwoman to formulate the best possible strategy for the party in facing the upcoming Johor state poll.”

Little wonder Teo gets snubbed by both DAP loyalists and detractors for her rigidity. 

- focus malaysia