AMPANG Jaya councillor Ten Kit Loong has emerged as the frontrunner to stand in Balakong, ahead of broadcast journalist Yunna Tan, among DAP’s grassroots.

Ten was among three names submitted by five of seven DAP branches in Balakong to Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming during a meeting on Wednesday.

The other two names submitted are Serdang DAP leaders Duncan Lee Ching Hung and Chan Huan Guan, but Ten is the most popular among the grassroots.

“He is the youngest among the 23 Ampang (Jaya) councillors sworn in on July 27,” a party grassroots member told The Malaysian Insight.

The Malaysian Insight is waiting for Ong’s response on the matter.

Ten joined DAP in 2011 and worked in the party headquarters.

He also has a master’s degree in regional and industrial economics from National Taiwan University.

It was reported that former Astro AEC host Yunna Tan had been approached by DAP leaders to consider being a candidate.

She resigned from Astro last month and joined DAP recently.

Balakong DAP grassroots leaders believe Ten is a far better candidate than Tan, with his education qualifications, command of languages, prior political and service experience, and years in the party.

The late Balakong assemblyman Ng Tien Chee had also worked his way up the ranks as a local councillor before becoming a state legislator.

Ng was killed in a car accident on July 20.

Nomination is on August 18, with a campaign period of 21 days, and voting day is on September 8.

Ng retained Balakong with a majority of 35,538 votes in a three-corner-fight against PAS and MCA in the 14th general election on May 9.

PAS had won 6,230 votes, 356 votes more than MCA. – August 9, 2018.