[ Laman Ehwal Semasa ReformIS ]
Date: 30 Aug 1999
Time: 01:25:31
Remote User: -
PAS likely to field Chinese in Kota Lama GUA MUSANG: PAS is likely to field a Chinese candidate in the Kota Lama state seat in the general election, said the party election director Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah. Although Wan Rahim did not say who the candidate is, it is widely believed businessman and Kota Baru municipal councillor Anuar Tan Abdullah could be PAS' choice.
Wan Rahim said the Kota Lama seat, one of three state seats in Kota Baru, was suitable for a Chinese candidate.
"The Malay voters there are fifty-fifty for PAS and Umno with the remaining voters, mainly Chinese, will be the kingmaker," he said after a political gathering at Sungai Terah near here on Saturday.
Chinese voters formed about 40% of the 25,000 voters in Kota Lama. Barisan Nasional's Leong Su Siang is the incumbent state assemblyman for Kota Lama and sole non-Malay assemblyman at the state assembly.
Leong, who is the state MCA liaison committee deputy chief, won the state seat with a majority of 1,845 votes in a four-cornered fight during the 1995 election.
Wan Rahim said PAS was prepared to field a non-Malay candidate because it was not a racist party.
"We do not have separate policies for different races," he said.
When contacted, Leong said he was unperturbed with the prospect of facing Anuar in the coming election.
"I am confident the people will see through PAS' ploy in trying to split Chinese votes," he said.
He said Chinese voters here did not have to be reminded of the action of the PAS state government after the 1995 election.