JOHOR BAHRU, Feb 20 (Sin Chew Daily) — Johor DAP chairman Liew Chin Tong is likely to heed the instruction of the party to contest in Perling state seat in Johor polls, said a DAP source.

However, Liew, in response to Sin Chew Daily, said the directive is not finalized, pending announcement by secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

DAP has yet to announce its candidacy in Perling, Skudai and Jementah state seats.

The DAP source said top party leadership hoped Liew would contest in Perling but the latter was not keen.

As the party leaders had wanted Liew to contest in Perling, DAP rejected the request by the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) to contest the seat, said the source.

“Perling was won by DAP in the last general election. It has no reason to let MUDA contest the seat. As the seat is a mixed constituency made up by both Chinese and Malays, we feel that the candidate must be good,” he said.

The source also said Perling is not a safe seat as Liew would face grassroots who prefer the incumbent Cheo Yee How.

Both Cheo and Skudai incumbent Tan Hong Pin are seen as non-mainstream in the Johor DAP and both are not fielded in the state polls.

DAP national organizing secretary Anthony Loke has said that Liew would not be fielded in Skudai.

It is learned that DAP has identified a former Kluang municipal councilor to be fielded in Skudai, pending announcement while the party is still looking for a candidate to be fielded in Jementah.

A source told Sin Chew Daily that top party leadership felt Liew should contest in the state polls since he is leading the state election.

“Although Liew is not keen to contest, party leaders feel that he should as he is spearheading the state election.

“Even if Liew were to lose, he would still be considered a ‘martyr’.”

DAP won a total of 14 state seats in the last general election. Lim Guan Eng has so far announced the candidates for 11 seats.

Nomination for the state polls is on February 26 and voting is on March 12.