A FACEBOOK post by DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang indicating that Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh would be fielded in a parliamentary seat for the general election (GE14) has led to speculation on her replacement for the urban seat.

Among the names being thrown around are lawyer Michelle Ng, an associate with Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo’s law firm, and Wanita DAP international secretary Sangeet Kaur Deo, daughter of the late DAP chairman Karpal Singh.

However, another source reckons that while these two are potential candidates for the Subang Jaya seat, they may also be fielded elsewhere in Selangor.

DAP sources are claiming that the candidate list is not finalised.

Kelana Jaya MCA chief Yap Yun Fatt, meanwhile, said, “We don’t want to rule out anything but it doesn’t matter who DAP fields.

MCA will most likely be fielding Chong, who is a long-time Subang Jaya resident, for GE14.
MCA will most likely be fielding Chong, who is a long-time Subang Jaya resident, for GE14.

“As far as MCA is concerned, we have to work hard to get back the seat and win the trust of Subang Jaya folk as we had in the past.

“It will be an uphill task as Yeoh was born and bred in Subang Jaya,” he said.

Yap said since the Subang Jaya state seat was formed in 1995, MCA’s Datuk Lee Hwa Beng held the seat for three terms until Yeoh captured it in 2008.

MCA will most likely be fielding Kelana Jaya MCA assistant treasurer Major (R) Chong Ah Watt, a long-time Subang Jaya resident, for the state seat this GE14.

Sangeet is one of the talked-about names as a possible candidate.

“MCA’s election machinery was activated a year ago. As the opposition in Selangor, we have limited resources at the moment, but if we can win the seat, we will be able to do more for the residents,” he said.

As for the redelineation, Yap said it would not affect the party much as it would only be an increase in the number of voters although the demographics were about the same.

“The areas from USJ 16 to USJ 23, which were previously under Subang Jaya before they were redesignated to Kinrara in the previous redelineation exercise in 2004, will return to Subang Jaya,” he said.

It has also been speculated that a municipal councillor could be fielded, as seen in GE13.

Former MPSJ councillor Ng Sze Han, as well as former MPKj councillors Lee Kee Hiong and Eddie Ng, contested in GE13 and are currently the assemblymen for Kinrara, Kuala Kubu Baru and Balakong, respectively.

Ng is said to be a potential candidate for DAP.
Ng is said to be a potential candidate for DAP.

Yeoh, a two-term assemblyman, won in 2008 with a 13,851 vote majority against Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Ong Chong Swen, and increased her majority to 28,069 against Barisan’s Gan Meng Foo in 2013.

SS17 RT committee member and former Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) councillor Theresa Ratnam Thong said she had yet to see any potential candidates from any party on the ground.

“Maybe the parties have yet to finalise their candidates.

“I had the opportunity to work with Yeoh when I was councillor from 2008 to 2010,” she said.

Thong added that whoever planned to run for the seat would have to be someone who is able to work with the residents and relevant authorities such as MPSJ.

Yap says as far as MCA is concerned, they have to work hard to get back the seat.

News of Yeoh likely to contest a parliamentary seat this time around did not come as a surprise to Wanita MCA vice-chairman Ong, who is also Selangor MCA chief.

“I have been hearing the talk about GE since 2016, when there was a possibility that it would be held in 2017.

“At that time, it was said that Yeoh was given the choice to stay in her current position or move up to parliament and she chose to stay,” said Ong, who stood against Yeoh in the 2008 general election (GE12).

“For Yeoh to remain in Selangor, she will have to contest one of DAP’s parliamentary seats, such as Klang, Serdang, or Puchong, unless there is a swap with other parties such as PKR,” said Ong.

“Yeoh is a Subang Jaya native, her roots are here, she has home ground advantage and the support of family and friends; plus, she is also the state assembly speaker.

“If she moves to another state, it will be an unknown future,” she added.

-The Star-