DAP still has high hopes its candidate can represent Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the Kota Lama seat in the Kelantan elections next month. 

Kelantan DAP chairman Azaha Abdul Rani said Kota Lama has about 38% non-Malay voters, and the state party leadership thinks DAP has a good chance at getting a surprise win there. 

“We will heed the decision of the party leadership, but the Chinese voters in the Kota Lama want DAP to contest there.

“We are worried if there is another candidate from the Chinese community such as an Independent candidate, the support and votes will change,” he told reporters after a Kelantan DAP programme in Kota Baru last night.

Also present was Penang DAP secretary Lim Hui Ying.

Commenting further, Azaha said the party has suitable candidates to contest the seat.

“The question of candidates is not an issue because Kelantan DAP has suitable candidates from the Malay and Chinese communities to be fielded for the Kota Lama seat,” he said.

In the 2018 general election, PAS candidate Anuar Tan Abdullah won the Kota Lama seat for the fourth time with a majority of 1,445 votes.

He defeated four other candidates, including from PKR and Barisan Nasional.

Yesterday, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, who is also PH chairman, when announcing the list of PKR candidates who will contest in next month’s state elections, did not say anything about the Kota Lama seat. 

He said PKR and Amanah are still in talks over the matter.

Elections in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan are on August 12, with nomination on July 29 and early voting on August 8. – Bernama, July 23, 2023.