KUALA LUMPUR, April 16- The Pandan parliamentary constituency is set to draw attention come Saturday, the nomination day for the 13th general election.
While both the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat(PKR) have declared their candidates, eyes will be scouting for the possibility of a third contender, namely incumbent Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat (pic), who was dropped from defending the seat which he has held for two terms.
The MCA yesterday named Garry Lim Chin Yee, 39, the division’s legal advisor to step into the fray against PKR’s strategic director, Rafizi Ramli, in the May 5 polls in the Malay-dominated area.
“Just wait for nomination day,” Ong was quoted as saying by Chinese daily Nanyang Siang Pau today. Pandan Wanita MCA chief Cindy Leong Siew Kam, who had known Ong for over 20 years, said it was unlike Ong to end his political career without a fight, and and she would not be surprised if he stood as an independent.
Leong said that although Ong liked to do things his way, he was a very dedicated and an experienced elected representative who was well liked by his constituents.
Lim said he too had heard that Ong would contest as an independent. “I haven’t spoken to him for months now. But I heard he will contest as an independent. We don’t know, just wait and see,” he said when contacted today.
Despite being a first timer, Lim said, he would go all out in the battle to defend the seat for BN, rating his chances as fair. Ong had served as a Member of Parliament for six terms, the first four in Ampang Jaya before moving to Pandan in 2004 and retaining it in 2008.
– BERNAMA
