The announcement of former Umno leader Mohd Ariff Sabri as DAP candidate for the Raub parliamentary constituency by secretary-general Lim Guan Eng on Monday has surprised everyone including DAP grassroots leaders as Mohd Ariff is a stranger in the constituency.

bukit koman funeral 010509 choong siew onn “The parachute candidate has caught us by surprise,” Raub DAP chief-cum-Tras assemblyperson Choong Siew Oon ( left ) told Malaysiakini when contacted yesterday, adding that he only knew about it 10 minutes before the announcement.

Prior to the ceramah on Monday evening at Raub where the announcement was made, local-born Pahang DAP deputy chief Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji had been expected to contest in the historic gold mining town.

Tengku Zulpuri is a descendant of one of the founders of the Pahang sultanate, who conquered Raub and Lipis district.

NONE Owing to his contribution in helping establish the sultanate, Tengku Zulpuri said his ancestor was bestowed the title of Dato Setia Lela - one of the ancestral titles of the Orang Besar Berlapan - by the sultan of Pahang.

Last month in an interview with Malaysiakini , he expressed confidence and was prepared to represent DAP to capture Raub.

The 48-year-old electronic engineer by training said Pahang DAP had previously asked him to contest in Raub twice, but he turned it down as he was not ready then.

“But I have more financial freedom now. I feel it is the right time to accept (the nomination) now.

“The chances (of capturing Raub) are high. If I reject it for the third time, I may not have it again,” he said when met at a Sungai Buloh cafe last month.

Tengku Zulpuri nudged to contest in Mentakab

However, the sudden ‘parachuting’ of Mohd Ariff has nudged Tengku Zulpuri to contest in Mentakab, a state seat under the parliamentary constituency of Termerloh, some 80km from Raub.

Chinese daily Sin Chew Daily reported that a local leader protested when Lim made the announcement during the ceramah, and Tengku Zulpuri ‘disappeared’ for a while when Lim requested all leaders to have take a group photograph on stage.

bentong ge story Tengku Zulpuri ( right ) was then cajoled by party members to the stage.

A Raub resident who attended the ceramah told Malaysiakini that Tengku Zulpuri has been active in the movement to protest against the use of hazardous chemical cyanide by a local gold mine, making him well-known among the residents there.

She was shocked when Mohd Ariff was declared as the candidate.

“I don’t know who he is?” she told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Choong regretted that Tengku Zulpuri was not chosen to represent DAP in Raub.

“I have a sense of losing. I have cooperated with Tengku Zulpuri for several years. He is a kind person and enjoys support here.”

However, he said the grassroots will back Mohd Ariff as he was one of the shortlisted potential candidates.

Mohd Ariff was Pulau Manis assemblyperson from 2004 to 2008. Between 2000 and 2004, he served as information chief of the Pekan Umno division, which is still helmed by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Better known by his blog title Sakmongkol AK47 , Mohd Ariff has been an active political blogger and frequent critic of the Najib administration.

He joined DAP in January 2012, along with veteran Umno member Aspan Alias, creating a dent in Umno’s constant efforts to portray DAP as an anti-Malay party.

More qualified as MP

DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke told Malaysiakini that Mohd Ariff was chosen because he is more qualified to be a parliamentarian.

“Ariff is an influential blogger and a sharp thinker. He criticised Umno prior to joining DAP.

NONE “By choosing him, we could dispel the labelling of DAP as an anti-Malay party by Umno,” he said when contacted yesterday.

As a former Umno assemblyperson, Loke (left) said, Mohd Ariff will enjoy an additional advantage among Malay voters.

“(Mohd Ariff’s candidacy) shows that DAP can accommodate former Umno member.”

Loke reiterated that the party central leadership has the final say on candidature despite different opinions from various quarters, hence party members should respect the decision.

Meanwhile, Mohd Aliff said he will base himself in Raub starting next week to interact with local residents and have meetings with village heads and committee members.

“Initially, local folks do not know the candidate, but they will know the candidate better as time goes by,” he told Malaysiakini .

Asked whether he was informed beforehand about his candidature in Raub, Mohd Aliff said there was an “indication” two months ago but he did not want to make it public.

MCA: Mohd Ariff may never get Malay votes

On the other hand, local MCA leaders were unperturbed by Mohd Ariff's candidature.

liow tiong lai pc 250609 lam kam sang @ lin jin sheng “By fielding a Malay as DAP candidate, it doesn’t mean that DAP will get Malay votes... and not all Chinese will support DAP,” Raub MCA division chief Lam Kam Sang ( right ) told Malaysiakini when contacted, expressing confidence that Raub is a BN stronghold.

According to the June 2011 electoral roll, there are 51,169 voters in Raub, comprising 48.54 percent Malays, 41.24 percent Chinese, 6.64 percent Indians and 3.29 percent Orang Asli.

Mohd Ariff may face three-term Pahang state exco member Ho Khai Mun as the incumbent MP Ng Yen Yen is expected to be dropped from defending Raub.

However, Ho declined to comment when approached by Malaysiakini .