GE13: Liu dropped from DAP list

KUALA LUMPUR: Senior Selangor DAP executive councillor Ronnie Liu became the biggest casualty when his party dropped him completely from the candidates list.

His colleague in the state exco, Teresa Kok, will not be defending the Kinrara state seat and will only contest in the Seputeh parliamentary seat.

Liu was the state exco in charge of local government and also assemblyman for Pandamaran.

Kok, who is also Selangor DAP chairman, was also the senior exco member in the Pakatan Rakyat state government in charge of investments.

Another controversial DAP leader, M. Manoharan, who was the Kota Alam Shah assemblyman, has also been dropped.

The former ISA detainee drew flak for making disparaging tweets on national badminton player Datuk Lee Chong Wei after he lost in the London Olympic finals.

Manoharan has been replaced by Selangor DAP state committee member V. Ganabatirau.

Meanwhile, Teratai representative Jenice Lee has been dropped from contesting in the 13th general election.

Her replacement is Petaling Jaya city councillor Tiew Way Keng.

Rajiv Rishyakaran has been named the candidate for Bukit Gasing despite Kasthuri Rani Patto being flagged previously for the seat.

Kasthuri Rani, who is the 34-year-old daughter of late DAP strongman P. Patto, has been tipped to be among the fresh faces who will contest in the general election.

She is likely to stand in Batu Kawan.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference at the party headquarters here yesterday, Kok remained silent when asked why she was giving up the powerful state government position.

“This is after much discussion with party leaders and we will also like to use the opportunity to promote new faces,” she said.

She also refused to answer when asked why Liu was dropped from the line-up.

“Don't ask me, ask the candidate selection committee,” she said.

She added that 10 out of the 15 candidates for the state assembly were new faces, with seven of them formerly local councillors.

DAP won 13 out of the 15 state seats and all of the four parliamentary seats which it contested in the 2008 general election.

In the list announced by party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, political analyst and DAP newcomer Ong Kian Ming will attempt to defend the Serdang parliamentary seat after incumbent Teo Nie Ching was moved to contest in the Kulai seat in Johor.

Ong will face MCA stalwart Datuk Yap Pian Hon but said he would relish the opportunity of meeting the grassroots and getting to know the area.

“I hope the voters see me as someone who will champion electoral reforms and economic and education issues,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lim said the selection of candidates was in line with the party's overall strategy.

“It is to ensure full representation and a strategic victory,” he said.

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