GE15: Calls to replace Santiago began as early as 2013, says Gobind

PETALING JAYA: Calls to replace Charles Santiago as the Klang MP candidate began as early as 2013, says Gobind Singh Deo.

“He (Santiago) was fully aware of requests for replacing him as far as 2013 and even 2018, where he came to see me.

“I was able to speak with the DAP leadership to give him an opportunity to carry on (and that was done).

“It has since been three terms and the decision made by DAP today was for us to look at other personalities, one of which is V. Ganabatirau (for the 15th General Election),” the Selangor DAP chairman told reporters after the DAP fundraising dinner here on Wednesday (Oct 26).

“He (Ganabatirau) is also a two-term state assemblyman who has performed and has a good track record on the ground in Kota Kemuning,” he said.

Ganabatirau is the current Kota Kemuning assemblyman.

Gobind added that he had also met with Santiago some time ago and informed him that there were proposals and other names being proposed as candidates for the Klang parliamentary seat.

“As DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said in his speech earlier, it is difficult to make these decisions as we have four parliamentary seats in Selangor and after 15 years, there have been requests to consider new personalities to take over for Parliament,” he said.

On whether DAP will be contesting in the Tanjong Karang parliamentary seat, Gobind said there was a possibility that Muda may get the seat.

“Negotiations are still ongoing. We will only decide on this over the weekend,” he said.

Earlier during the event, it was announced that Kota Kemuning assemblyman V. Ganabatirau would be replacing incumbent Klang MP Charles Santiago as the candidate for GE15.

Loke announced that Gobind who is also the incumbent Puchong MP, will be contesting in Damansara for GE15.

Replacing Gobind in Puchong is incumbent Bakri MP Yeo Bee Yin, who is also the former Damansara Utama assemblyman.

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang’s political secretary Syahredzan Johan meanwhile will be contesting the Bangi parliamentary seat, replacing incumbent MP Ong Kian Ming who had mentioned he would be standing down earlier this year.

Nomination Day for GE15 is on Nov 5 with polling day set for Nov 19.