The DAP will not issue any announcement on its choice of candidate until April 28, after its central executive council (CEC) meets in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the matter, said secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Lim urge all leaders to refrain from speaking to the press about the by-election “to avoid distortion by the mainstream media”.

Until the 28th, Lim said acting DAP chairperson Tan Kok Wai, state DAP chairperson Chow Kon Yeow and himself will be spokespersons on the by-election preparations.    

“Candidature will be discussed by the CEC and decided by the DAP candidature committee headed by me and comprising Tan and senior leader Lim Kit Siang,” Lim said in a statement.

 

The Election Commission today announced that nomination day for the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary by-election will be held on May 11, while polling day will be on May 25.

The seat fell vacant after four-term MP Karpal Singh, 74, died in a car crash with his helper Michael Cornelius Jayakrishnan near Gua Tempurung, along the North-South Expressway in the wee hours of April 17.

Lim said DAP has lost an “upstanding and outstanding leader” in Karpal Singh, while the nation lost a brilliant legal mind and the rakyat, a fearless “tiger” with an indomitable spirit who stood up for the poor, weak defenceless and dispossessed.

“Karpal will be sorely missed and we need to continue his life-long struggle for justice, integrity, freedom and democracy for a better Malaysia,” said the Penang chief minister.

“The by-election may be difficult for the DAP because it is unlikely that the party can repeat the huge majority of 41,778 votes won by Karpal in the 2013 general election,” Lim lamented.

“After all who can match the irreplaceable Karpal? For this reason, nothing should be taken for granted and there must be a concerted effort to bring out the vote in Bukit Gelugor on 25 May,” he stressed.

Lim said Tan, who is Cheras MP, will be DAP CEC by-election director while Chow will be Penang by-election director for Bukit Gelugor.

Campaign period falls during assembly proceedings

Meanwhile, the 13 day campaign period falls during the proceedings of the Penang state legislative assembly.

Asked if the date would be postponed in view of the coming by-election, state assembly speaker Law Choo Kiang ( right ) said the dates for the session has been fixed.

“The date, May 19, was fixed before the announcement of the Election Commission and consent had been obtained from the governor, hence there would not be any changes or postponement,” Law, the Bukit Tambun assemblyperson, said.

“The first meeting of the second session will start on May 19 until all agenda items are completed, it will normally take at least one week,” he added.

“Letters had been sent by the assembly secretary on April 14 to inform all assemblypersons about this,” he stressed.

In a related development, state police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi said the force is ready for the coming polls.

“We will deploy 6,011 personnel to ensure the by-election proceeds smoothly,” he told reporters after attending a High Profile Policing programme at the Bayan Baru wet market.

“My men will have their leaves frozen starting today until further notice to prepare themselves for the election,” he added.

“We will ensure the election is carried out in a peaceful manner,” he stressed.