Rumours rife over Teng being dropped
DAP strongman may be moved to a difficult seat
KLANG: State executive councillor and DAP strongman Datuk Teng Chang Khim’s name has been thrown in the general election speculation frenzy, with talk that he will be either moved to contest in a difficult constituency, or dropped.
When contacted, Teng, the Sungai Pinang assemblyman, said: “I am in the dark.”
He added if it was indeed true he was being dropped, it was the wrong message to be sent to a hardworking assemblyman.
“Hard work does not pay. I’ll just wait and see,” said Teng.
A DAP leader, when contacted, said the party is planning to send Teng to Kuala Kubu Baru and another DAP executive councillor, Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, to Sungai Pelek.
He added the current Kuala Kubu Baru assemblyman Lee Kee Hiong will be sent to contest elsewhere, while the Sungai Pelek incumbent Lai Nyuk Lan will be dropped.
“We have identified these two seats, as well as Sekinchan, as difficult seats. Teng and Ean Yong are sent there because they are among our strongest candidates in Selangor,” he said.
However, a Pakatan Harapan insider said Sungai Pelek was safer compared with Kuala Kubu Baru which is located in a Barisan Nasional stronghold.
Kuala Kubu Baru, Batang Kali and Hulu Bernam fall under the Hulu Selangor parliamentary constituency and all except for Lee’s seat are held by Barisan.
“This could be a ploy to finish off Teng’s political career because it will be tough as he will be fighting Hulu Selangor MCA division chief Datuk Wong Koon Mun if he contests in Kuala Kubu Baru,” said the insider.
Teng, who is viewed as the most hardworking and productive amongst the three DAP exco members in the state government, has always been somewhat a lone ranger in the party.
The five-term assemblyman, who has a very close and warm working relationship with Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, is also regarded with trepidation by some of his party colleagues.
“They don’t want him because he does not play the ‘follow the leader’ game and is too strong for them to remove,” said the Pakatan source.
He added the only way to remove Teng would be for him to lose in the general election.