Following last night's confirmation by DAP heavyweight Lim Kit Siang that he will contest the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat this coming election, the opposition party is set to send more of its prominent leaders to Johor.

azlan DAP leader Hew Kuan Yau, who is widely referred to as ‘Superman' by party members and supporters, said secretary-general Lim Guan Eng suggested he to contest Johor MCA stronghold, the Labis parliamentary seat. He is giving this some thought.

Hew also posted the offer from Guan Eng on his Facebook page to gather opinions from netizens on what they would think of him doing battle in Johor.

"In accordance with Lim Kit Siang's election strategy to move south, Lim Guan Eng had last night formally offered me to contest in Labis and challenge (MCA president) Chua (Soi Lek)'s son Chua Tee Yong in the coming election.

"Secretary-general said he will make an announcement once I agree. But I said I need time to consider it seriously, especially to assess in which role I can contribute more to the change of government, either as a candidate or as a 'freeman', giving speeches around the country?"

"How do you all think?" he asked in a Facebook posting uploaded this morning.

Netizens split in their views

Hew confirmed the offer from Guan Eng, who is also Penang chief minister, in a telephone interview with Malaysiakini this morning.

The netizens who have responded so far have been split in their views, with some encouraging Hew to take up the challenge, while some others called on him to go around the country to help in the opposition campaign.

NONE Labis, a semi-rural town in the northern part of Johor, was won by the junior Chua ( right ) with a 4,094-vote majority in 2008.

Tee Yong was fielded in the seat held by his father, Soi Lek, who quit all his official and party posts after a sex video of him emerged and was widely circulated.

However, Soi Lek made a successful political comeback to the MCA leadership by winning the party president's post in 2010.

Hew had previously declared that he would contest in the very seat that Soi Lek would take on in the coming general election.

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