By Syed Jaymal Zahiid
The Malaysian Insider
April 09, 2013
KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 — Barisan Nasional (BN) is “looking” into the possibility of fielding Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Abdul Ghani Othman in Gelang Patah to face DAP heavyweight Lim Kit Siang, the coalition’s deputy chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.
Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president, claimed that grassroots support for the idea was positive, saying that Lim did not anticipate this and that the DAP stalwart “is now trapped there”, suggesting that the veteran lawmaker would likely be defeated in the BN fortress.
“We are taking into consideration the views of all quarters because we need to study the details thoroughly as there are pros and cons,” Muhyiddin told reporters after handing out gifts to SPM top scorers here.
“We have received much feedback from the grassroots; this is something Kit Siang did not anticipate. We see that he is now trapped there,” he added.
The caretaker deputy prime minister, however, noted it was ultimately up to BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak to decide if the move would be in the coalition’s best interest.
“Ultimately the decision is up to the chairman of BN,” he said.
Party sources said Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek was asked to face Lim in Gelang Patah but the MCA president declined the offer, leaving BN to consider its choices for the hottest battle in Umno’s home state, say ruling coalition sources.
The Malaysian Insider understands the MCA is pushing for Ghani to fight the DAP adviser but an unsettled Malay ground and pro-opposition Chinese voters could scuttle those plans.
“Some in the BN war room thought it would be a titanic fight and that Dr Chua is strong enough to face Kit but the MCA president said no,” a BN source told The Malaysian Insider, referring to the veteran opposition leader by his moniker Kit.
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) announced last month that Lim was to run in Gelang Patah, and spearhead the opposition pact’s push to pick up more federal seats in Johor. Dr Chua was then dared by the DAP to face Lim but the MCA president declined the challenge last week.
The MCA had earlier named local division leader Jason Teoh to run in the federal seat, won by Johor Wanita MCA chief and deputy national vice-chairman Tan Ah Eng in Election 2008 when she retained the seat by defeating PKR’s Zaliha Mustafa by 8,851 votes. Dr. Chua had said respecting the incumbent and his supporters was among the many reasons why he would not contest there, a view echoed by Muhyiddin today.
Lim’s political arch-foe, Malaysia’s longest-serving Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, described Lim’s move from Ipoh Timor “ridiculous”, calling BN members to bury the DAP adviser’s political career and said the local Chinese would not give support.
Lim then asked Dr Mahathir to run against him but was turned down. Since then, MCA-controlled newspaper The Star has been reporting that Ghani was popular with the electorate and would be ideal to face the veteran DAP leader.
However, it is learnt that BN has not included the caretaker Johor mentri besar in its candidate list due to a pushback from the local Malay community upset with rising costs and being elbowed out of the fast-developing and pricy Iskandar Malaysia economic corridor.
The 67-year-old Umno leader has been a four-term MB but it is understood that BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak wants to put in younger and “winnable” candidates to helm the Umno home state.
Muhyiddin said regardless of who BN’s candidate is, the coalition would do its best to defend the federal seat.
“We will defend the seat regardless if it’s Kit Siang or (DAP secretary-general and Lim’s son) Lim Guan Eng who will be contesting there,” he said.
Moo, do you know how to differentiate strong leader from weak leader?
Strong leader, emerged stronger during crisis. This is an epic attempt, it will glorious, even failed, be proud of it.
Weak leader, looks for excuses, to dodge, to avoid. It is shameful, failed even to face it. This type of leader once knocked down, can’t back up. If you can’t face the voters, how can you give an opportunity for you to redeem youself? at the end take it ‘you are merely a pornstar’
Lks, you can win with pride, even you lose, we are very proud of you!
Johorean, voters of Gelang Patah, if you guy don’t vote for leader with such quality, who else can you vote?
How could bn win the election Lks at Gelang Patah… that also, the ball was kicked around among bn. Why so weak?
biar mati berdiri megah dari hidup melutut merayu.ayuh lim kit siang. Undilah PR
Is good to be PR supporter, lks win or lose, we stand proud.
To mca member of gelang patah, hope you guy feel proud if Gani win this battle, that is the moral standard of csl… god bless mca member, show them what proud is, so that they can be proudly tell others he his mca member.
Mooh should just move from Pagoh and face Lim in Gelang Patah. UMNO and Johor really needs him now and Mooh should volunteer and start his campaign now at Gelang Patah. If Mooh is betul betul a wira UMNO..he shouldnot hesitate to go down. But if he chickens out….we will all understand..
You question him how many percent of johor land sold to foreginers
Ghani will win hand down , he need only 35% chinese vote
the underground betting odd 2 to 1 for BN to win
2:1 NY underground longkang betting eh. That must be pretty reliable eh.
…studying pros , cons,,, all Bullsh*t .,,, !
This C4,MaMak-Bumno is trying to avoid campaign head-on Contagious, Current issues
( or to salvage what ever here ) . Pakatan has to be effective, “think-out-box” and make it STICK here. Bring it to Bumno home turfs – fresh, more creative ideas to garner more, more votes,,, They already gave up on urban voters ( as most have decided, either or ) only the “undecided / go by the wind “. That’ s why more BRING 1,2, 3? , lap-tops for all students,,, All these point to ” other targets ” – they aimed mainly at those groups easier to Hoodwink or ” kowtim ” etc.,,,
Meanwhile, waiting to Cheat the daylight out of everyone comes G13 – AND to depend on fix deposits,,,,, which makes campaigning like before tking a back sit now ! or, plan it that way.
If that mooing half past six DPM has balls, he should come over here to contest, just as Guan Yu did in the romance of three kingdom rather then push one coward after another to face the enemy into the battle field. ABU ABU
Ghani is taking a gamble with his political career on the decline. No UMNO warlords will risk it all when they are still in favor, or without some form of insurance. Perhaps, this is what the 1MF meant with the pros and cons here.
LKS will win uncontested
Les PRAY THEY DO THIS!!! Its a fantastic sign the crazies have control of UMNO/BN GE.. They are so full of themselves they have no clue what they are doing..We knew they were racist, bigots, arrogant but seriously did not know they were also loser GEEKS..
All this is the result of trying to push Ghani into contesting in Gelang Patah. Does it mean that Ghani and UMNO top leaders have struck a deal to do this?
I really can’t believe they have made a deal for Ghani to do this. Ghani either is very desperate and struck a bad deal or they have lost their head in making bad deal that will haunt them in the future.. Either way, someone has completely LOST the plot..
Hi guys, think over why should Ghani be the one facing Uncle Kit? His political carrier is at stake with this battle and judging by his past record as the MB for several terms i don’t see any reason why he should take up the challenge. ONLY 1 reason ;
Ghani has been promised senator or some political career regardless of the outcome of Gelang Patah.
Anyone with me on this?
The infighting in Bumno BeEnd is more intense than the competition with PR. Jibby is using Kit to crush Gani and Musidin, Musidin is damaging Jibby in Pekan. Madey trying to save some face in GPatah.