Tony Pua sits out GE15, Gobind to take his place in Damansara

Incumbent Damansara MP Tony Pua has announced his decision to sit out of the forthcoming 15th general election (GE15), while at the same time pledging to continue assisting the party.

Pua (above) made the announcement during a Damansara DAP fundraising dinner tonight, where party secretary-general Anthony Loke also announced that incumbent Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo will move to contest in Damansara.

“I officially announce I will not be contesting as MP. The decision was made many years ago to step down from the political front lines.

“I will not disappear from the political horizon. In this GE, I am fully involved in party machinery and fundraising campaigns,” said the former Selangor DAP chairperson.

“Moving forward, I am more than happy to contribute to policy and party organisation,” he said.

Pua, a former political secretary to DAP national chairperson Lim Guan Eng, who was the finance minister during Harapan’s stint in Putrajaya, also said he would be a part of the government if the coalition returns to federal power after GE15.

As Pua announced his decision to sit out, there was an uproar from the audience.

Later, when DAP secretary-general Loke delivered a speech, a man was heard asking, “Why? We want Tony Pua!”

Pua previously served as Petaling Jaya Utara MP for two terms from 2008 to 2018, before the seat was renamed to Damansara in GE14.

Meanwhile, incumbent Bakri MP Yeo Bee Yin will be fielded in Puchong, joining a list of four Selangor DAP candidates announced tonight.

‘State rep to contest in Klang’

Two other candidates announced were lawyer Syahredzan Johan in Bangi to replace incumbent MP Ong Kian Ming, as well as Kota Kemuning assemblyperson V Ganabatirau in Klang to replace incumbent MP Charles Santiago.

While Ong announced his intentions to sit out of GE15, Charles previously indicated readiness to defend his seat amid a show of support by Klang voters.

The announcements tonight ahead of official nominations on Nov 5 have seen a reshuffle of the Selangor DAP line-up.

Met by reporters later, Gobind said a further announcement is expected to be made this weekend on whether DAP will contest an additional Parliament seat in Tanjong Karang.

If DAP decides not to contest the seat, which was previously contested by Bersatu in GE14 when the party was part of Harapan, it may be allocated for Muda based on an electoral pact with the youth-based party.

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