KUALA LUMPUR: Outgoing Skudai assemblyman Marina Ibrahim quashed claims that she is afraid to contest in Malay-majority areas.
In a statement on her official Facebook page on Tuesday (June 3), she said she has been involved in political fieldwork in such constituencies since 2021.
"I was sent to Layang-Layang in 2021 to carry out grassroots work and set up a community centre.
"I was even initially expected to contest the seat during the Johor elections in March 2022.
“I was a fresh kid, inexperienced and new in politics, when I was sent to work in Layang-Layang.
“I was expected to face Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, who was the then Johor tourism, youth and sports exco," she said.
She said back then she was doing grassroots work in the village areas with other inexperienced volunteers.
"I was placed to contest in Skudai at the last minute," she said.
Marina said she served as campaign manager in Mersing during the 2022 general elections as well.
"This was where a first-time DAP candidate contested in a constituency with about 76% Malay voters without losing her deposit.
"I was the campaign manager there then.
“If we truly wanted to expand the party in Malay areas, a coordinator should have been appointed long ago.
“Grassroots members have raised this issue repeatedly.
So, where is the coordinator to develop the seat?" she questioned.
Marina said her decision to leave politics had nothing to do with frustration or a preference for safer ground.
“This is not about winning or losing.
"My decision has nothing to do with being upset or wanting a comfortable seat," she said.
On May 31, Marina announced that she was leaving politics and would not seek re-election in Skudai.
A letter purportedly written by Marina to state DAP chairman Teo Nie Ching, declining an offer to contest the Tiram state seat, later made the rounds on social media.
The letter stated that she had declined Teo’s offer to contest the seat, as well as an offer of a government-linked company position if she failed to win.
Speculation surfaced claiming that the move to field Marina in a different seat was to give way to Johor DAP assistant secretary Ng Siam Luang as the next candidate.
