TWO DAP dissidents have been announced as candidates in the upcoming Johor state elections in keeping with an agreement reached between the party’s state chapter factions and its national leadership.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng announced that incumbent Ng Yak Howe will defend the Bentayan seat while Yeo Tung Siong will contest again the Pekan Nanas seat.

Ng first contested in Bentayan in 2018 while Yeo has held the seat since 2013.

“The Johor elections are more important than any other state elections that had taken place. This is an election that will determine the future of the people,” Lim said at a press conference in Kulai. 

“This election is not just about the candidates, it is also not about the parties, it is about the people.

“(These candidates) will give us a better chance to win.”

Also present at the press conference were party organising secretary Anthony Loke, Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang, Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong, DAP deputy chairman Gobind Singh, DAP vice-chairman M. Kulasegaran, Johor DAP election preparations committee chairman Teo Nie Ching.

Ng and Yeo are among five DAP assemblymen who allegedly are at loggerheads with the party’s Johor leadership. 

All five are alleged to be part of a Johor DAP faction that is against state party chief Liew, his deputy Teo and Bakri MP Yeo Bee Yin. 

The other three are Tan Hong Pin (Skudai), Ee Chin Li (Tangkak) and Cheo Yee How (Perling). 

Last week, news portal Malaysiakini reported that following a meeting, it was agreed that three of the five incumbents – Ng, Ee and Yeo Tung Siong – will be fielded again in their respective seats for the Johor polls. 

Two others – Tan and Cheo – will be dropped. Tan, however, will be fielded in the next general election in the parliamentary constituency of Labis.

DAP central election committee chairman Tan Kok Wai said he is confident that the party will be able to repeat its victory during the 14th general election (GE14). 

“I am confident a breakthrough will be reached on March 12,” he said.  

“In GE14, Barisan Nasional was rejected by the people of Johor because of corruption and abuse of power. I am confident this will be repeated.” 

When asked about Muda and PKR not having reached a consensus on the seat allocation for elections, Lim said he is confident that the two parties will reach a consensus soon. 

“I don’t think there will be a clash. They will reach a consensus just like DAP and Amanah,” he said 

“I would like to take a positive view.”  

Johor will go to the polls on March 12, with nomination slated for February 26 and early voting on March 8. – February 19, 2022.