BATU GAJAH (Feb 17, 2008): DAP's Incumbent Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan today announced that she was not offering herself as a candidate in the March 8 general election.
She conveyed her decision to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng who heads the DAP national committee on the selection of candidates.
In a copy of her e-mail to Guan Eng circulated to the media, Fong cited the development of internal party events in the Perak DAP over the last few years as the reason for her decision.
"It has become impossible for me to continue serving effectively, efficiently and wholeheartedly as a party leader as well as an elected representative of the people. Under such circumstances and in the best interest of all concerned, I have arrived at this unavoidable and difficult decision," she said in the e-mail.
The report said that it is not immediately known whether her decision is related to rumours that she will be fielded as a DAP candidate in Johor in the general election. Fong had married Johor DAP organising secretary Tan Chen Choon on Jan 12.
In her e-mail to Guan Eng, Fong recommended that incumbent DAP's Pasir Pinji assemblyman Thomas Su Keong Siong be fielded as the DAP candidate in Batu Gajah.
In the 2004 general election, in a high-profile battle, Fong defeated MCA secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan with a 7,927-vote majority to successfully defend Batu Gajah for a second term. She garnered 28,662 votes while Ong polled 20,735.
In the 1999 election, Fong, who was then 26, defeated MCA's Yeong Chee Wah with a majority of 2,071 votes.
theSun learnt that the withdrawal of Fong from the polls this time was due to her disagreement with Perak DAP chairman Ngeh Koo Ham and secretary Nga Kor Ming.
Nga, who was reported as forcing Fong to give up her seat in Batu Gajah, has denied the report.
Fong, when contacted, said she her decision was final but declined to confirm about her disagreement with Ngeh and Ngah who are brothers.
In an immediate response, Ngeh when met at the DAP headquarters in Petaling Jaya expressed shock over Fong's announcement.
He denied speculations that the Perak DAP has forced her to contest somewhere else.
"Perak DAP supports her candidacy in Batu Gajah for the third term. Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng has informed her the decision of her standing in Batu Gajah last night," he said.
Ngeh said the party would try to persuade Fong to stay on and defend the seat for a third-term.
Perak DAP puzzled over Fong's resignation
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 17, 2008): Perak DAP today said they were shocked incumbent Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan's announcement that she will defend her parliamentary seat for a third consecutive term.
The opposition party’s state chief Ngeh Koo Ham said the party had in fact supported her candidacy for the seat in the coming general election.
He added that party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who is also the party’s candidate selection committee head, had informed her yesterday that she will be picked to defend the Perak constituency.
Ngeh said Fong had not given any reason as to her decision and the party is also in the dark about the move.
"It is better to ask her rather then I comment,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after meeting national DAP leaders this evening, Ngeh said Fong’s move had caught the party "by surprise".
He added that Fong, who is a two term MP, had performed well and is quite popular in her constituency.
Ngeh also denied that Fong is not seeking re-election as she was being moved elsewhere.
“The party’s candidate selection committee had informed that she had been selected as the candidate for Batu Gajah,” he said.
He added that the party leadership would try to persuade her to change her mind over here move.
“We have not prepared any candidate for Batu Gajah except her," he said, adding that he does not think her withdrawal would affect the party’s chances in the constituency as well as in the state.
“I hope the people will continue to support us despite her resignation,” he said.
Ngeh said the party leadership is likely decide in the next one day or so over the candidate for Batu Gajah, in the event Fong could not be persuaded to change her mind.
“I leave it to the selection committee … they have the power to select the candidate,” he said.
Fong won the Batu Gajah seat in her first outing in 1999, when she was only 26 years old and retained it in 2004 by defating MCA heavyweight and secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan.
1 comment:
This “cili padi” is “hot only in Parliament debate” and too fragile to cope as a Politician especially so since getting married. Has anyone seen her at a demo or protest? She should retire from the dirty politics she detested and live happily after on a good pension without doing anything.
The DPM Najib has a good laugh at her refusal to contest citing “DAP is facing a serious internal conflict” adding “"It looks like the DAP can't practice what it preaches within the party's administration” So how can they administer the country? More update details at
Go H E R E
and DAP braches met and “unanimously passed a resolution to ask her to reconsider the decision”
PRESENT POINT POWER
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