JOHOR BAHARU, March 29 – Johor Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chairman Datuk Chua Jui Meng(Pic) was nowhere to be seen when DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang was announced as the opposition’s candidate for Gelang Patah parliamentary seat at the DAP’s 47th anniversary celebration in Skudai two weeks ago. Chua was said to be ‘sulking’ when his high hope to contest for the seat in the 13th general election, was crushed after Johor DAP decided to field its candidate in the constituency where Chinese community made the majority of voters.
Since then, Chua seemed to have disappeared from Johor political spotlight, and hence strengthened the speculation that the former health minister was actually sulking and giving everyone the silent treatment. Media attempts to contact Chua also failed since the Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced Lim’s nomination. Johor PKR legal bureau chief Jimmy Phuah, when contacted by Bernama today, said Chua was still Johor PKR chairman despite the overwhelming speculation that he would give the post up as he was very upset with the decision.
“He is away for a holiday and he will be around by next week. I’m not sure (whether Chua sulks), but he is still Johor PKR chairman and will definitely get back to work,” he said.
The PKR-DAP disputes over the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat had existed long before the announcement on Lim’s nomination. The disputes had gotten out of control when Johor DAP chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau also showed keen interest in contesting the seat. Since 1999, Gelang Patah parliamentary seat was contested by PKR’s candidate and, before that, by Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s candidate, in a fight against Barisan Nasional’s (BN) candidate.
In the 2008 general election, BN’s candidate Tan Ah Heng defeated PKR’s candidate Dr Zaliha Mustafa with over 8,000-vote majority.
BERNAMA
