By Jahabar Sadiq
The Malaysian Insider
April 15, 2013
KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 — Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman will defend Gelang Patah against the DAP’s Lim Kit Siang while the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) now seeks a safe state seat for his potential successor as Johor mentri besar, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, in Election 2013, say coalition sources.
Despite BN’s pledge to put new faces, The Malaysian Insider understands that the 66-year-old MB is the best bet against the 72-year-old Lim as the ruling coalition is depending on the Malay vote to carry it in the May 5 general election.
“It has been decided that Ghani will defend Gelang Patah as BN doesn’t want to risk losing its fixed deposit in Johor,” a source told The Malaysian Insider.
He said the MCA has agreed to give up the seat to Umno, under a strategy where the BN war room believes Umno candidates can beat back the DAP attack in Johor and other Malay-majority states rather than MCA hopefuls.
“There will be a number of veterans being asked to stay on and defend their seats because DAP and PAS together can cause trouble,” the BN source added, referring to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties that also includes PKR.
BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak is due to give out the final candidates’ lists to state coalition chiefs today, with the full list to be announced within the next 24 hours. The unprecedented announcement is to give time for the coalition to introduce new faces before the April 20 nomination day.
BN is now looking for a safe seat for Khaled as he is likely to be the mentri besar if the coalition keeps Johor.It is learnt that Umno was ready to drop Ghani, who has helmed the party bastion state for four terms since 1995, but Lim’s candidacy has forced a rethink.
“There was going to be a lot of changes but plans have been revised to keep PR out of Johor.
“We think Ghani can win against Kit Siang by at least a few thousand votes,” the source said, adding the coalition has given up on getting any substantial votes from the Chinese community.
PKR ran in Gelang Patah in the past two general elections, but lost both times to Johor Wanita MCA chief Tan Ah Eng. Tan kept the seat in Election 2008 with a majority of 8,851 votes, a smaller majority than the overwhelming 31,666-vote majority in 2004.
Chinese voters make up 54 per cent in the constituency, while Malays and Indians make up 34 per cent and 12 per cent respectively.
Another source said BN is now looking for a safe seat for Khaled as he is likely to be the mentri besar if the coalition keeps Johor.
The two-term Pasir Gudang MP might not contest in the federal seat of Permas and Johor Jaya state seat as both have large numbers of Chinese voters.
“Chinese voters are a problem and we can’t rely on MCA to get support,” said the source.
Khaled has appeared unperturbed by the speculation over his next political career change, 23 years after he was first elected as a Johor MP in 1990.
“I do not know where I am going to contest and will have to wait for the final word from the prime minister,” he was quoted as saying by The Star on Saturday.
A total of 13.3 million voters, including 5,200 abroad, are expected to cast their ballots for 222 federal and 505 state seats in the May 5 general election. Sarawak had its state elections in 2011.