DAP Penang to announce GE14 candidates in stages

GEORGE TOWN: Penang DAP does not have plans to announce all of its candidates in one go.
Instead, the names of candidates will be released in stages before nomination day on April 28 for the 14th general election.
So far, only the candidacy for the Bukit Mertajam parliamentary seat and its two state seats - Padang Lalang and Berapit have been announced while Machang Bubuk which is currently held by PKR's Lee Khai Loon will be announced by that party.
Bukit Mertajam incumbent Steven Sim will defend his seat for a second term while Chong Eng and former journalist Heng Lee Lee will battle it out in Padang Lalang and Berapit respectively, considered to be DAP strongholds.
According to sources theSun spoke to, the party is still finalising its list of candidates to ensure that it can field the best candidates as DAP is bracing for multi-cornered fights to take place.
Also according to sources, some incumbent state candidates will likely be shifted to parliamentary seats.
It is learnt discussions on the Bukit Bendera parliamentary seat and the state seats of Air Putih, Tanjung Bungah and Pulau Tikus are still ongoing.
"They are still trying to figure out the candidate especially for Pulau Tikus which is expected to be a hot battleground," said a source.
Nonetheless, sources also revealed that the incumbent for Prai Prof. P. Ramasamy might be going for a parliamentary seat and this will leave the Deputy Chief Minister II post vacant.
A DAP grassroots leader also said the party may field eight fresh faces, likely from the local councils.
Syerleena Abd Rashid, Chris Lee, Jeffery Chew, and Ong Ah Teong, were among the names mentioned.
Attempts to get state DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow were futile while state DAP secretary Lim Hui Ying declined to comment.