Outgoing Skudai rep staying put in DAP

Outgoing Skudai rep staying put in DAP


JOHOR POLLS | Incumbent Skudai assemblyperson Tan Hong Pin today stressed he does not intend to leave DAP despite being dropped as a candidate in the upcoming Johor election.

"I have made my views to the party leadership clear. I wish to repeat that, regardless of whether the party fields me or not, I will not defect," he said on Facebook today.

Tan (above) made the statement following speculation he was being poached by Warisan.

He added that he was grateful DAP trusted him and that the party has proposed he be fielded as a candidate during the next parliamentary election.

He did not state if he agreed with the proposal. He is among several incumbent DAP assemblypersons who are rumoured to have been dropped as candidates.

Loke has ‘full confidence’ in Tan

DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke told Sin Chew Daily in an interview that Warisan was making overtures to Tan.

According to Loke, Warisan's offer was to field Tan as a candidate for Skudai and later as a candidate for Iskandar Puteri - a parliamentary seat held by DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang for two terms.

"That is what Tan told me. I have full confidence in Tan. I believe he will not leave DAP for Warisan," Loke said.

The Seremban MP added he will do his best to convince Tan to accept the plan of being fielded as a candidate for Parliament.

Specifically, Loke said the overtures to Tan were coming from Warisan vice-president Junz Wong - a former DAP member from Sabah.

Loke described Wong as a "traitor" who was now busy trying to poach disgruntled or former DAP members in Peninsular Malaysia.

"DAP has nothing against Warisan president Shafie Apdal. We treat him and Warisan as friends.

“However, our relationship is a bit unclear because he is allowing his minders to act inappropriately," the former minister added.

Warisan vice-president Junz Wong


Wong denies claims

In an immediate response, Wong denied making overtures to Tan. Instead, he said he would sometimes meet Tan in Sandakan - the hometown of the latter's spouse.

"Sometimes, we meet up for tea to chat. I have never asked him to defect. The last time I met Tan was on Feb 7 in Johor Bahru.

"It was during the meeting that some of Tan's associates suggested he leave DAP for other platforms. Then we discussed Warisan's approach to multiracialism," Wong said.

He added that the former Skudai assemblyperson and the Skudai Warisan coordinator were among those at the meeting.

‘I did not leave DAP for benefits’

On Loke's criticism, Wong explained that he left DAP for Warisan in 2016 because of problems within the party and that there was a need to help Shafie set up Warisan.

"I did not leave DAP to seek any benefits. Instead, I chose a more difficult path. We have never conspired with the enemy.

“Conversely, Pakatan Harapan and DAP are propping up an Umno government. This has left many people speechless and ashamed," he said.