DAP’s long-standing electoral strategy has been to field senior leaders in challenging constituencies as part of efforts to broaden the party’s reach and strengthen its presence in new political areas, according to party member Ong Kian Ming.
The former deputy international trade and industry minister and Bangi MP said the approach involved leaving safe seats to contest marginal or difficult constituencies in order to expand the party’s footprint.
He pointed to veteran leader Lim Kit Siang as a prominent example, noting that he repeatedly contested challenging seats, including Ipoh Timor in 2004 and Gelang Patah in 2013, winning both contests.
Strategy aimed at expanding party influence
Ong said several other senior leaders had adopted a similar approach over the years.
Among them were former secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who led the party’s expansion in Penang in 2008 after leaving Melaka, and Liew Chin Tong, who left Bukit Bendera after one term before winning Kluang in 2013.
He also cited Teo Nie Ching, who moved from Serdang to win Kulai in 2013, and Nga Kor Ming, who shifted from Taiping to Teluk Intan in 2018.
“I benefitted from such strategic movements when Teo vacated Serdang in 2013, allowing me to contest the constituency, which became Bangi in 2018,” he said in a Facebook post.
According to Ong, DAP’s growth in Johor would not have been possible without leaders such as Lim Kit Siang, Liew Chin Tong and Teo Nie Ching contesting constituencies previously held by MCA, which helped strengthen the party’s organisational capacity in the state.
At the same time, he said the strategy was not applied uniformly across all leaders and constituencies.
He noted that senior leaders such as Tan Kok Wai, Teresa Kok and Fong Kui Lun had remained in their respective strongholds of Cheras, Seputeh and Bukit Bintang for multiple terms due to different strategic considerations.
Marina Ibrahim and Skudai discussions
Ong also referred to Gobind Singh Deo’s move from Puchong to Damansara in 2022, saying it allowed Yeo Bee Yin to contest in Puchong.
Addressing recent discussions involving the Skudai state seat, Ong said Marina Ibrahim was reportedly not the initial first-choice candidate under earlier plans.
He said there had been considerations for Syahredzan Johan to contest the Iskandar Puteri parliamentary seat, which was expected to be vacated following Lim Kit Siang’s retirement. This, he said, made it difficult to field two Malay candidates simultaneously in closely linked constituencies.
However, the circumstances changed when party leaders became aware of his intention to vacate the Bangi parliamentary seat, creating the possibility for Marina to be fielded in Skudai.
Ong added that proposals for Marina to contest more challenging constituencies such as Tiram were likely influenced by wider strategic considerations rather than personal motives.
He said discussions surrounding Skudai may also have been shaped by internal dynamics and competing interests at the constituency level.
Marina praised for clear decision
Commenting on Marina’s decision to step back from contesting, Ong praised her for taking a clear and principled position rather than waiting until the candidate list was finalised.
He said the decision may have placed the party leadership in a difficult position but demonstrated her commitment to avoiding internal complications.
Ong also addressed the issue of post-election appointments, saying positions in statutory bodies offered to former elected representatives were intended to retain experienced individuals in public service and governance.
He noted that such arrangements were not uncommon, adding that he served as a director of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority from 2023 to 2025 after GE15 with the support of party leaders and the relevant federal ministry.
Ong expressed hope that Marina Ibrahim would continue contributing to public service in Johor in whatever role she chooses in the future.
