PETALING JAYA: The proposal to field broadcast journalist Tan Yunn Chzuan as the DAP candidate in the upcoming Balakong by-election isn’t finalised yet.
Tan, popularly known as Yunna Tan, confirmed that she was approached by DAP to contest in the state seat. But she said there will be a list of five to six names to be considered by the party’s central executive committee.
“As far as I am aware, no decision has been made. I am surprised and honoured to be even considered for the vacancy.
“The responsibilities and commitment of a state elected representative is heavy and entails a high degree of sacrifice,” she said in a statement posted on her Facebook profile on Saturday (August 4).
The 33-year-old said that even if she is not selected to run under DAP’s ticket, she will still lend her support to the party’s struggle.
“Going forward, I want to play my part, directly or indirectly, to help build a new Malaysia,” she added.
Tan, a former reporter with Astro AEC, has more than 83,000 people following her Facebook page.
The Balakong state seat fell vacant following the death of its assemblyman Eddie Ng in an accident on the Grand Saga Highway on July 20.
In the 14th General Election, Ng retained the seat for the second term after defeating Lim Chin Wah from Barisan Nasional and Mohamad Ibrahim Ghazali of PAS with a 35,538-vote majority.
Nomination day is on Aug 18 and the campaign period will last 21 days.
The Balakong by-election is expected to be a straight fight between DAP and MCA.