GE15: Santiago to make way for Ean Yong in Klang, says source

KLANG: Selangor DAP may see a change of its candidate for the Klang parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election with incumbent Charles Santiago being replaced.

According to a party source, Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah would be contesting the seat.

"There are 28 branches in Selangor that are throwing their support behind Ean Yong to contest for the seat," said the source.

Although the party’s top echelon leadership has yet to say anything about it, the source claimed the deal was 90% done as the names were already in the Selangor state list.

"Usually the party’s selection committee will only make its decision known after the Dewan Rakyat has been dissolved but if the names are already in the state list, it is literally confirmed," added the source.

The source said the party however would not leave Santiago asunder after giving his seat to Ean Yong.

“There is currently talk that Santiago would be sent to a state seat.

"There is high probability that Santiago will be contesting the Bandar Baru Klang seat which is currently being held by Selangor senior exco Datuk Teng Chang Khim," added the source.

Teng had announced that he would not be contesting for the upcoming general election.

However, there were also others in the party who said that it was not a workable or viable swap.

According to them Santiago would probably be sent to other state seats in Selangor.

DAP holds 15 seats in the Selangor. They are Sekinchan, Kuala Kubu Baru, Dusun Tua, Balakong, Seri Kembangan, Kinrara, Subang Jaya, Bukit Gasing, Kampung Tunku, Bandar Utama, Bandar Baru Klang, Pandamaran, Kota Kemuning, Banting and Sungai Pelek.

The source added that some of the incumbents for the state seats had also been marked for replacement and hence Santiago, who had been very active in the Klang constituency for the last three terms, could be sent to any one of them.