DAP chairperson Karpal Singh has appealed to his protege and incumbent Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan to reconsider her decision to sit out the 13th general election.

Calling Fong a "priceless asset" to the Dewan Rakyat, Karpal said it was "in the public interest" that Fong reconsiders her decision not to seek a re-election.

NONE "I have no doubt in my mind that she will successfully defend Batu Gajah in the coming election," he said.

Karpal, who was informed of her decision last September said Fong ( right ) "is an anchor" for DAP in Parliament and that losing her would be a "great loss" for the party.

"She has sacrificed her legal career to devote (her) full time to politics. Her departure from Parliament will deprive this august house of one of its priceless assets," he said.

However, the DAP chief's glowing review could not sway the fiery orator, who had debuted in the Dewan Rakyat in 1999.

In an immediate response, Fong, who is taking a step back for "personal reasons", said her decision was final.

"I would like to thank Karpal and the party for their guidance all this while," she said.

Winning the Batu Gajah seat with a majority of 7,927 votes in 2004, Fong more than tripled her gain, winning with a mammoth majority of 24, 627 votes in 2008.

She is among a group of vocal female DAP parliamentarians who served in the 2008-2013 term, including Teo Nie Ching (Serdang), Chong Eng (Bukit Mertajam) and Teresa Kok (Seputeh).

Related stories

'Najib has targeted three young Pakatan candidates'

Jui Meng secures strong backing from Segamat DAP

Orang Asli to take on BN big guns in GE13

Mat Sabu, Guan Eng say no to three-cornered fight

PKR has several Selangor MB candidates, says Wan Azizah

PKR: Cops and EC not seeing eye-to-eye on Sosma

Bersih to proceed with manifesto 'showdown'

PAS insists on Sungai Acheh, confident of victory

Malacca PAS to field woman candidate for first time

Drop sedition charges against Tian Chua, urges group

Hindraf, we are not at war with you