Several prominent DAP leaders will not defend their state seats in the upcoming Johor election as the party introduces a number of new candidates under Pakatan Harapan’s electoral line-up.
The changes were revealed when Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim announced the coalition’s candidates in Tangkak.
Among the notable names absent from the candidate list is Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong, who currently serves as DAP’s strategic director and Member of Parliament for Iskandar Puteri.
Liew, the incumbent Perling assemblyman, will be replaced by Alan Tee in the constituency.
Generational transition in key seats
Johor Jaya assemblyman Liow Cai Tung, who has represented the seat for three consecutive terms since the 2013 general election, will not be seeking re-election. The seat will instead be contested by Lee Wern Yiing.
In Mengkibol, two-term assemblyman Chew Chong Sin will make way for lawyer Chu Poh Yee.
It is understood that Liow and Chew were not renominated as both are being considered for parliamentary contests in the next general election.
New candidates emerge
DAP is also fielding a new candidate in Penggaram, where Felicia Poh will replace Gan Peck Cheng.
Gan, who previously served as deputy speaker of the Johor State Legislative Assembly, had earlier indicated her intention to retire from politics.
The move reflects the party’s continued introduction of new faces while retaining its presence in key constituencies across the state.
Retirement opens way for successor
In Skudai, Kartiyaini Jeyapalan has been nominated to contest the seat following the retirement of Marina Ibrahim.
Marina announced on May 31 that she would step away from politics, ending her tenure as the constituency’s representative.
The Election Commission has fixed June 27 as nomination day and July 7 for early voting, with polling scheduled for July 11.
