Big surprise in Penang PKR list

Incumbent casualties: (From top left) Law, Maktar, Abdul Malik, Cheah, Dr Jayabalan and Ong have been axed from their party

GEORGE TOWN: The PKR candidates list in Penang has thrown up major surprises with several stalwarts being dropped and with one to be fielded in Johor.

Among the casualties are State Assembly Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang and his deputy Datuk Maktar Shapee, who are both the incumbent Bukit Tambun and Sungai Bakap assemblymen.

Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, who is Pantai Jerejak assemblyman, will be fielded in the Batu Pahat parliamentary seat in Johor.

Another incumbent dropped is two-term state exco member Datuk Abdul Malik Abul Kassim, who is the incumbent Batu Maung assemblyman.

In a text message, Abdul Malik said he accepted the decision “open-heartedly” and will continue his battle.

“I will support the party to ensure victory in the Batu Maung state seat and the Bayan Baru parliamentary seat,” he said yesterday.

Three of the “PKR Five” who abstained on a motion on land reclamation tabled by a Barisan Na­­sional assemblyman in the state assembly have also been given the boot.

They are Kebun Bunga assemblyman Cheah Kah Peng, Batu Uban assemblyman Dr T. Jayabalan and Bukit Tengah assemblyman Ong Chin Wen.

The two retained are Dr Norlela Ariffin in Penanti and Lee Khai Loon in Machang Bubuk.

Cheah, who would be replaced by Jason Ong Khan Lee, said he would continue to fight for the benefit of the party and the people.

Dr Jayabalan viewed it as a norm in politics.

Mohd Rashid said he respected the decision by the top leadership of PKR to move him to Johor.

“I will take it as a vision to win big for Pakatan Harapan to take over Putrajaya,” he said.

PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution will be fielded in Pantai Jerejak, a move seen by many as the first step for him to become the next Deputy Chief Minister I.

Saifuddin will also contest the Kulim-Bandar Baharu parliamentary seat in Kedah bordering Penang.

PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar will contest in Permatang Pauh, a parliamentary seat which has been with her family since 1982.

Two councillors — A. Kumaresan and Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik — will contest the Batu Uban state seat and the Balik Pulau parliamentary seat.