No fixed policy in DAP to stop candidates from contesting in two seats, says Kon Yeow

No fixed policy in DAP to stop candidates from contesting in two seats, says Kon Yeow


Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow is expected to defend his state seat in the upcoming state elections. — Bernama pic

Wednesday, 28 Jun 2023 2:48 PM MYT


GEORGE TOWN, June 28 — There is no fixed policy in DAP to restrict its candidates from contesting in two seats in any elections, said Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow.

He said there are DAP candidates that contested in both parliamentary and state seats in other states.


“The state committee can make the necessary recommendations (for an MP to contest in a state seat) but this process has not started yet,” he said when asked if other Penang DAP MPs will also contest in the state polls.

He said the state committee will need to gain the views from the incumbents first and listen to what they have to say.


“We need to look back and review everything first,” he said.


Currently, Chow is the Batu Kawan MP and the incumbent for Padang Kota state seat.

He is expected to defend his state seat in the upcoming state elections.

Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng is the Air Putih incumbent while Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid is the Seri Delima incumbent.

Syerleena has said she will not be defending her state seat, giving way to another candidate while Lim has kept mum on this.

Meanwhile, Chow said the party will start interviewing the incumbents in Penang today.

“We already interviewed the candidates for the general elections last year and we are doing this now again, to refresh, and to understand the position and feelings of the incumbents now,” he said.

When asked whether the party will fulfil its 30 per cent quota for female candidates, Chow said it is the party policy but they have been unable to meet the quota in previous elections and appointment of city councillors.

“The main issue is the suitability of the candidates and the number of those who are suitable,” he said.

When asked about Muda going solo and possibly creating multi-corner fights in the state elections, he said this does not bode well for candidates from some parties.

“We can see from the elections that some candidates from other parties have lost their deposit due to multi-corner fights,” he said.

He said he personally would prefer one-to-one fights in the state elections.

As for whether Penang Pakatan Harapan will try to work with Muda, he said he will leave this to the party leadership as it is a national issue.