BOO: I’M NOT RUNNING AS INDEPENDENT

I’m committed to DAP, says former Johor party chairman

As for the person who will contest here (Skudai state seat), that decision was made by the party leadership. They know better. DR BOO CHENG HAU

Former Johor DAP chairman

THE fact that former Johor DAP chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau’s name is not on the party’s list of candidates for the 14th General Election (GE14) has led to speculation about his future.

This followed news that Dr Boo, 53, had declined the party’s offer to contest the Labis parliamentary seat.

One rumour said he had elected to defend his Skudai state seat, which he had held for the past two terms, as an independent candidate.

Dr Boo is a popular figure in Skudai and is said to have an affinity for the people there.

He was said to have had a falling out with the DAP central leadership as he was known to be outspoken.

These factors would mean it would not be too much of a surprise to see him contesting Skudai as an independent.

However, he was quick to deny such speculation, saying he was committed to DAP.

“I would like to reiterate that I will not stand as an independent in Skudai.

“As for the person who will contest here, that decision was made by the party leadership.

“They know better,” he told the New Straits Times Press at a programme in Lima Keda here.

Recently, he had voiced his disappointment after DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had announced that Mengkibol assemblyman Tan Hong Pin would be the party’s candidate for Skudai in GE14.

Dr Boo had defeated Barisan Nasional’s Liang Ah Chy with a 18,050-vote majority in the previous election