BN does not have to ‘dance the tango' with the DAP which is betting on its adviser Lim Kit Siang for the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat in the upcoming 13th general election, said the BN chairperson for Gelang Patah, Abdul Aziz Sapian.

He said there was no need for the BN to copy the DAP and place a big name to contest the seat.

"It is better for BN to field a local leader in Gelang Patah, a person who is aware of the issues and the problems of the local community.

"We don't have to follow the DAP's rhythm in betting on an outsider (for Gelang Patah). He (Kit Siang) has zero knowledge about Gelang Patah," he told Bernama in Johor Baru today.

Following the DAP's decision to field Kit Siang in Gelang Patah, speculation has been rife that the BN will also probably find a big name from among MCA leaders to challenge the DAP adviser.

Among the MCA leaders mentioned with potential to take on Kit Siang include its president Chua Soi Lek and Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong.

Prior to this, MCA Gelang Patah division chairperson Jason Teoh was said to be the candidate selected by MCA and BN for the seat.

Local residents would lose

In the 2008 general election, BN candidate Tan Ah Heng defended the seat by beating PKR's Dr Zaliha Mustafa with an 8,000-vote majority.

Abdul Aziz, who is also Nusajaya assemblyperson, one of the state seats in the Gelang Patah parliamentary constituency, said the local residents would be the losers if they voted for Kit Siang.

The record of the DAP adviser, who often moved from one parliamentary seat to another in his long political career, said Abdul Aziz, was clear proof of the level of service he would be offering.

He also said Kit Siang had no issues to raise there and was trying to "flog a dead horse" by twisting land issues.

He added that Gelang Patah voters were eagerly waiting for the election to "bury Kit Siang once and for all".

- Bernama