Gerakan and Umno are at odds over the fate of incumbent Segambut parliamentarian Dr Tan Kee Kwong in Barisan Nasional’s attempt to wrestle Kepong from the opposition.

parliament ipcmc roundtable talk 281207 tan seng giaw Kee Kwong - who is the Federal Territory Gerakan chief - has been tipped to contest in Kepong to upset DAP’s Dr Tan Seng Giaw’s ( photo ) grip over the Chinese majority seat for 25 years.

Despite speculations from the media, Kee Kwong remained tight-lipped about his candidacy in the much sought after seat.

"How can I comment about issues in Kepong when the party has not confirmed me as a candidate yet? We'll wait for nomination day," he said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

However, a party source revealed that Segambut Umno disagreed with the seat arrangement and has taken the matter to the BN leaders.

The source said Segambut Umno felt the ‘safe’ parliamentary seat would be jeopardised if Gerakan fields anybody else aside from Kee Kwong who is purportedly popular amongst his constituents.

It has been speculated that Lim Si Pin - the son of former Gerakan chief Dr Lim Keng Yaik would replace Kee Kwong as part of Gerakan's bid to inject fresh faces and younger leaders in the coming elections.

However, Lim has been said to contest in the Simpang Renggam parliamentary sear currently held by former deputy party president Kerk Choo Ting.

Need someone senior to slay the 'giant'

The source then alluded that Segambut Umno would be furious if Ma Woei Chyi - who lost to Seng Giaw twice in the 1999 and 2004 elections in Kepong - were to contest in Segambut.

"If Kee Kwong goes to Kepong then we might risk losing Segambut if we field Ma but Ma cannot run in Kepong anymore, he has already lost twice," the source said.

In the 2004 elections, Seng Giaw’s 23,282 votes defeated Ma’s 21,428. The industrial town has over 60,000 voters made up of 91 percent Chinese, 5.2 percent Indians, 3.5 per cent Malays and 0.3 percent of others.

tan seng giaw kepong parliament interview 200208 banner Seng Giaw has been the Kepong parliamentarian for six-terms.

The internal party tussle for the Kepong seat had also begun when a banner urging Gerakan to select party youth leader Lau Hoi Keong to contest and reject outsiders was placed on the busy Kepong main road.

According to party sources, the banner was done by supporters of Lau unhappy with the party's decision to field Kee Kwong in Kepong.

At a press conference today, Federal Territory Gerakan assistant secretary KK Supramaniam said the party prefers to field Tan over Lau because the former is more senior and seasoned to take on Seng Giaw the ‘giant’.

gerakan kl pc on kepong 210208 kk supramaniam "We want someone senior to challenge Seng Giaw the ‘giant’ who has overstayed his welcome," he told reporters.

Supramaniam said that should Kee Kwong run in Kepong, he would face the protege of his father - Dr Tan Chee Khoon who was the co-founder of then-opposition Gerakan.

In 1976, Seng Giaw assisted the late Chee Khoon to serve the latter’s constituents which later led to Seng Giaw’s participation in politics.

"Kee Kwong has a 50-50 chance of winning Kepong. It would be very interesting to see the son go against his father’s disciple," he said.