exclusive Keadilan has picked former teacher Khoo Yang Chong, 50, to contest the Jan 19 Indera Kayangan by-election after party efforts to woo local doctor Dr Por Choo Chor failed.

According to sources, Por declined Keadilan's offer of candidacy despite serious attempts by leaders from the opposition party to persuade him to contest the by-election.

The popular local doctor is believed to have "difficulties convincing his father", who at 84 has recently suffered a mild stroke.

"He (Por) is facing difficulties as his father was a former Penang MCA executive member," said the source, who requested anonymity.

Por, who is still a life member of MCA, would have posted a serious challenge to the Chinese-based party in retaining the state seat.

The decision to field Khoo was made by Keadilan's supreme council members after a four-hour meeting yesterday which ended at midnight.

It is learnt that state party leaders in Perlis, where the by-election will be held, were not consulted regarding the choice of candidates.

State bureau chief Wan Kharizal Wan Khazim had complained about party "miscommunication" between the headquarters and local party leaders on the matter.

When asked to confirm the matter, Perlis bureau chief Wan Kharizal Wan Khazim said, "Yes, in the beginning there were some problems, but we ironed them out at last night's supreme council meeting."

Those who were shortlisted by the party included Keadilan Penang deputy chief Cheah Kah Peng, former candidate Ko Chu Liang and a 26-year-old lawyer from Penang, Jason Ong Kahn Lee.

But by last night, the party supreme council had narrowed their choice to two potential candidates, Por and Khoo.

Battle of former school teachers

Khoo, 50, is an English secondary school teacher and is the executive secretary of the Chinese Kwang Tung Association. He has five children and is also a commissioner of oath.

Campaigning for the Indera Kayangan by-election will begin on Thursday, which is nomination day.

Khoo will contest against retired Chinese school headmistress Oui Ah Lan, 58, in a fight between two former educators.

Oui, whose candidacy was announced last Saturday, is the Perlis Wanita chairperson and Arau division chairperson.

Chinese Malaysian and Malay Malaysian voters comprise 47.9 percent and 46.4 percent respectively with Indian Malaysians forming 5.3 percent and other races, 0.4 percent.

The by-election, to be determined by about 8,000 Indera Kayangan voters, was called following the death of incumbent BN's Khor Tiang Lee last month.