MELAKA: Melaka DAP vice-chairman Khoo Poay Tiong has started strengthening his election machinery on Friday (Oct 28), ending weeks of speculation that he will be dropped from contesting in the 15th General Election (GE15).
He will be defending the Kota Melaka parliamentary seat as the incumbent in the upcoming election.
The candidacy of 52-year-old Khoo in the GE15 was affirmed by DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke during an event at the Kota Melaka Parliament service centre at Kota Laksamana here on Thursday (Oct 27).
Loke said Khoo was nominated for his excellent service in the constituency besides also having a good attendance and participation record in Parliament.
However, the event saw some state DAP leaders not present as they were believed to be disgruntled by the decision to field Khoo in Kota Melaka for the second time.
Bandar Hilir assemblyman Leng Chau Yen and those aligned to former Melaka DAP chairman Datuk Tey Kok Kiew had skipped the event.
It was earlier speculated that the Melaka DAP had suggested their own candidate to replace Khoo.
However, a state DAP election worker who requested anonymity, said Khoo had full support from PKR and Parti Amanah Negara grassroots members.
"Changing the candidate would be 'suicidal' although Kota Melaka is a stronghold of Pakatan Harapan.
"Furthermore, Khoo has been helping his constituents and we don't want a new face," he said.
It was no secret that Melaka DAP had two camps - one who still supported Tey and the other one who were in Khoo's camp.
Tey had stepped down as the state DAP chief in November last year after the party only won four of the eight seats it defended in the Nov 20 Melaka election.
Tey also failed to defend the Bemban seat which was a DAP constituency when he only managed to secure 3,095 votes, while Perikatan Nasional’s Yadzil Yaakub won the seat after garnering 4,211 votes in the five-cornered fight.
When contacted, Khoo said he would continue to woo his electorate.
"We still have to put in a lot of effort to secure a higher majority," he said on Friday (Oct 28).
In GE14, Khoo won Kota Melaka with a 49,174 vote-majority against Eric Choo Wei Sern (Barisan Nasional) and Goh Leong San (Independent).
