DAP sets up fight with Gerakan to be 'King of the North'

PETALING JAYA: DAP is to pit its Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming against Gerakan chief Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong in Teluk Intan for the mother of all battles up north.
This, according to a report in Sin Chew Daily today, is the opposition party's strategy to split Barisan Nasional's resources during the election campaign with a two-prong attack on the ruling coalition in the Peninsular.
DAP has already set the stage for a battle royale down south with its Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong taking on MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong in Ayer Hitam.
The report said DAP's central leadership has met Nga on the matter and made a final decision on Monday to have him take on Mah.
The party's central leadership is also considering fielding Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo against MCA vice-president Datuk Chua Tee Yong and incumbent MP in Labis, Johor in a do-or-die move.
A source said the party has identified Liew, Gobind and Nga as potential candidates for Cabinet posts and intends to use this as their trump card to win more votes.
DAP felt that for Pakatan Harapan to march into Putrajaya, it has to create a bigger political tsunami and its leaders have to lead by example and fight at the frontline.
On the rationale of fielding Nga against Mah, the source said the party believes that given his popularity, outspokenness and social standing, Nga has the best chance to take down a minister-level opponent.
"Having served as an MP for two terms, Nga has built a formidable team in Taiping. The party is of the opinion that it can still retain Taiping by fielding another candidate. Fielding Nga in another constituency means the chance to add another parliamentary seat to its tally," the source said.
The party is expected to make an official announcement of its candidates on April 6, a day after the end of the current Parliament session.