State polls: DAP unveils Penang candidates, seven new faces in line-up

From left: Connie Tan Hooi Peng, Phee Syn Tze, Joshua Woo Sze Zeng, Kumaran Krishnan, Chee Yeeh Keen, Sundarajoo and Wong Yuee Harng.

GEORGE TOWN: DAP officially announced the names of 19 candidates, including seven new faces, who will be fielded in the Penang state election on Aug 12.

The new faces are Phee Syn Tze, Chee Yeeh Keen, Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo, Kumaran Krishnan, Connie Tan Hooi Peng, Joshua Woo Sze Zeng and Wong Yuee Harng.

Syn Tze, 38, is the daughter of Sungai Puyu incumbent Phee Boon Poh. She will be making her debut in politics by replacing his father.

Sundarajoo, the former Ecoworld Development Group Bhd deputy chief executive officer, will also make his political debut by replacing Penang Deputy Chief Minister Dr P Ramasamy in Prai.

Chee, 41, who is also Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP) councillor, and Tan, 33, who is Penang Island City Council (MBPP) councillor, will contest in Bagan Jermal and Seri Delima respectively.

An MBPP councillor since 2016 Wong, 35, will be contesting in Pengkalan Kota, replacing incumbent Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi Si Zen, who will be moved to Padang Lalang.

Gooi, 36, is set to replace DAP Wanita leader Chong Eng, who has been dropped from the line-up.

Woo, 41, a former MBSP councillor and current special officer to caretaker state infrastructure and transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari, will replace first-term assemblyman Chris Lee in Pulau Tikus.

Businessman Kumaran, 45, will replace Bagan Dalam first-term assemblyman Satees Muniandy.

Former Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai, 50, is making a comeback after being named as candidate for Paya Terubong, replacing state tourism committee chairman and three-term assemblyman Yeoh Soon Hin.

Incumbents retained are caretaker Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (Padang Kota), Lim Guan Eng (Air Putih), Joseph Ng (Air Itam), Zairil Khir Johari (Tanjung Bunga), Teh Lai Heng (Komtar), Jagdeep Singh Deo (Datuk Keramat), Lim Siew Khim (Sungai Pinang), Ong Ah Teong (Batu Lancang), Heng Lee Lee (Berapit) and Hn'ng Mooi Lye (Jawi).

The candidates were announced by DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.