JOHOR BAHARU, March 25- The DAP is expected to field several heavyweights to contest seats in Johor in the general election as it wants to ‘kill’ the MCA in the Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold. Member of Parliament for Johor Baharu , Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad(Pic) said by ‘killing” the MCA, the DAP hopes to become the sole representative of the Chinese in Johor.
“This is the DAP plan and if it succeeds, the political landscape will be changed to politics based on racism. Is this what the Chinese community in Johor wants.”
The DAP wanted to do a similar thing in Penang in 2008 general election where it managed to ‘kill’ Gerakan, he said after launching BN Youth, Wanita and Puteri election machinery here recently. Shahrir said although the DAP claimed to be a multiracial party, it only contested Johor seats with Chinese majority voters and only against the MCA.
The DAP had named adviser Lim Kit Siang as candidate for Gelang Patah parliamentary seat while Member of Parliament for Bukit Bendera, Liew Chin Tong might contest Kluang parliamentary seat. Gelang Patah seat is held Tan Ah Heng (BN/MCA) while Kluang by Deputy Higher Education Minister, Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung (BN/MCA).
There is also talk that DAP chairman Karpal Singh might contest Kulai parliamentary seat currently held by former MCA president, Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting. Shahrir did not rule out DAP secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng from contesting in Johor as he was born in Johor Baharu. He said the DAP wanted to politicise everything from Chinese education to houses of worship and religion.
This is unlike BN because the party did not interfere and left Chinese schools to Chinese associations as was done in the management of religious affairs.
“The DAP, PAS and PKR will politicise everything. The Malays, Chinese and Indians in Johor must ask themselves, is this what they want for Johor and Malaysia?.
On talk that PKR might name former army chief, Gen (R) Tan Sri Hashim Hussein as candidate for Johor Baharu seat, he said the support of voters is more important than the candidate.
BERNAMA
