Battle ROYALE
BATU PAHAT: The first battle royale of the 14th general e l e c t i o n ( GE1 4 ) was confirmed yesterday with DAP’s Johor chairman Liew Chin Tong picked to contest the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng announced that Liew will take on Ayer Hitam incumbent MP Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong if the MCA deputy president defends his seat of three terms.
The announcement was made during DAP’s 52nd anniversary celebration at the Pakatan Harapan (PH) election campaign centre in Ayer Hitam near here.
Liew, who is the incumbent MP
for Kluang, called it a battle that “many people think is impossible to win”.
“I have only 40% confidence in winning the seat but there is a fighting chance, and I will take up the challenge. For me, this is not a personal fight, but a fight for the people.”
Liew said he is not worried that his successor in Kluang would have a difficult time.
“People will support our team, and the distance between Kluang and Ayer Hitam is not great. I will still stay in Kluang, and serve the people in the Ayer Hitam parliamentary constituency,” he said.
Reacting to DAP’s decision to field Liew against him, Wee said he welcomes anyone from Pakatan to contest against him.
“This is a democratic country and anyone can contest if they wish to,” he said, adding that he will not underestimate anyone standing against him.
“MCA has always put serving the people first … what has Liew done for the people in Kluang and Johor?”
Pakatan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad called Liew “a very brave young man to take up the challenge”, as 58% of the constituency comprises Malay voters.
On which of the opposition coalition component party symbol to use for GE14, Mahathir said it had not been decided yet.
Meanwhile, a banner was seen at the Kluang-Batu Pahat road, with text expressing Parti Amanah Negara’s unhappiness on DAP taking the Ayer Hitam seat.
Johor Amanah chief Aminolhuda Hassan said his party did not put up the banner.
“It is sabotage by our rivals,” he said.