DAP considering a major candidate to contest Ayer Hitam seat

THE Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat may see a battle of titans as the talk now is that DAP will field a heavyweight to take on MCA No 2 Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong in the latter's stronghold.
According to a report in Sin Chew Daily today, DAP, which regards Johor as its frontline state in the 14th General Election (GE14), is considering several options, including Parliamentary Opposition Leader-cum-Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang, Johor DAP chief cum Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong and party international secretary-cum-Kulai MP Teo Nee Ching.
Although DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke had earlier said a Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) candidate would contest the seat on a DAP ticket under a special arrangement, the latest word is that a DAP candidate will be fielded due to strategic reasons.
PAN strategy director Dzulkefly Ahmad has confirmed to the daily that during their seat allocation talks, DAP had wanted PAN to make way for the Rocket to field a heavyweight in Ayer Hitam.
"However, we are still discussing the matter … regarding which party will contest the seat and who will be fielded. There is no final decision yet," said Dzulkefly.
"The Pakata Harapan (PH) presidential council had earlier decided that Ayer Hitam will go to DAP, but a PAN candidate will be fielded (under the Rocket symbol). However, a PAN candidate may not get to contest the seat at the end of the day. We are still negotiating on the choice of candidate."
Contacted by Sin Chew, Liew confirmed that DAP is still negotiating with PAN on who will contest in Ayer Hitam.
On speculation that either he or Lim would contest the seat, Liew said party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had already quashed such talk.