Copyright 1995 New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad New Straits Times (Malaysia)

April 15, 1995

SECTION: National; Pg. 2

LENGTH: 870 words

HEADLINE: Sprinkling of women among new faces from the Opposition

DATELINE:

BODY: KUALA LUMPUR, Fri. - Some women and graduates are among the mixture of new faces being fielded by Opposition parties to contest in the general election on April 24-25. Among them is former - anti-narcotics division chief Ahmad Mohd Alim of Pas. He is contesting against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr for the Kubang Pasu parliamentary seat. A total of 18 newcomers, including several women candidates, are joining in the fray in the line-up announced by the DAP and Pas in , Negri Sembilan, , , Perlis and Kedah. They include Lee Kee Hiong, 29, (Duyong) the first woman candidate to be fielded by the DAP or the Opposition in Malacca. Lee, an agricultural science graduate of Universiti Pertanian Malaysia and special assistant to DAP secretary-general , will challenge State MCA chief Datuk Gan Boon Leong. The DAP also confirmed that Kota Melaka MP will defend his seat, ending speculation that he would contest in to reinforce the party's position there. Lim will again meet his 1990 general election rival, BN candidate Soon Tian Szu, who is also the Kota Melaka MCA youth chief. Earlier predictions that Lim, the DAP Socialist Youth national chairman, would also contest the Ayer Keroh State seat have been proven incorrect. The party had instead decided to field State political education chief Tan Tong Chiew, 45, to challenge BN candidate Seah Kwi Tong, who is also the State MCA youth chief. Tan has a masterfters degree in Chemistry. In the Selandar parliamentary constituency it is fielding Tan Seng Seng, 32, an economics and poitical science graduate from Melbourne University, in its bid to wrest the seat from BN incumbent Deputy Education Minister Datuk Fong Chan Onn. The party is also fielding two other young leaders in the State. They are holder of a masterfters degree in chemistry Goh Leong San, 28, (Tengkera) and businessman Michael Yow Seng Beng, 32, (Bachang). The other DAP candidates are State DAP chief and Assemblyman Sim Tong Him, 47, (Bandar Hilir), incumbent Yew Kok Kee, 30, (Durian Daun), Joseph Sta Maria, 33, (Paya Rumput), Woo Hap Hin, 45, (Pulau Sebang) and Wong Chin Chye, 37, (Bukit Sedanan). In Johor, five new faces, including two women, are among the DAP candidates who will vie for five parliamentary and 10 State seats. State party chief S.K. Song said the candidates for the parliamentary seats are Ahmad Ton (), Yaacob Jantan (Segamat), Tan Kok Kwang (Bakri), Salleh Ahmad (Senai) and Lim Swer Ho (Kluang). Those fielded for the State seats are Pang Hok Liong (), Wong Peng Sheng (), Eng Ah Kau (Paloh), Toh Kim Hua (Mengkibol), Gan Peck Cheng (Penggaram), Yap Kok Seng (Stulang), Liang Toy Heng (Tangkak), Lim Ser Wee (Maharani) and Chan Jock Lan (Skudai). Song himself will be trying again for the State seat of Kulai against Barisan Nasionalfters Khoo Che Wat. In Negri Sembilan, the DAP will contest in three parliamentary and nine State constituencies, the partyfters national chairman Dr Chen Man Hin said. He said the party would contest in the Seremban, Rasah and Teluk Kemang parliamentary seats while the State seats to be contested would be Chennah (Jelebu), Bahau (Jempol), Nilai, Lobak (both Seremban), Temiang, Rahang, Mambau (all in Rasah), Si Rusa and Lukut (both in Teluk Kemang). Dr Chen, 70, is tipped to take on the BNfters Datuk Wong See Wah, who is Deputy Minister in the Prime Ministerfters Department and State MCA chairman, for the Rasah parliamentary seat. He declined to confirm his candidacy. In Terengganu, Pas said its candidates would contest in 20 State constituencies. Nine of the candidates are new faces, mostly professionals and administrators, while the rest are incumbents, most of whom will be defending their seats. In addition, Pas also announced the candidates who will contest in four parliamentary seats - Pas deputy president in Marang, Pas treasurer Mustafa Ali in Dungun, State Pas secretary Hussein Awang in Setiu and State commissioner Harun Taib in Hulu Terengganu. Among the new faces to be fielded by Pas for the State seats are Ismail Mamat (ex-teacher of Sekolah Menengah Agama Sheikh Abdul Malik) who will contest in Teluk Pasu, Dr Che Ku Hashim Ku Mat (who owns a clinic in ) in Kuala Besut and businessman Muhyuddin Abdul Rashid in Kuala Berang. Incumbents who will defend their State seats are Abdul Hadi Awang (Rhu Rendang), Harun Taib (Manir), Abdul Latiff Mohd (Jertih), State Pas Youth Council head Wahid Endut (Wakaf Mempelam), Pas legal adviser Wan Abdul Mutalib Embong (Batu Burok) and Zahari Mohd in Jabi (Setiu). In Perlis, Pas is contesting 12 seats and Parti Melayu Semangat 46 six seats in an agreement under the Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah (APU). Five graduates, including a consultant engineer, are among those who will represent Pas in the election. In Alor Star, Pas president Fadzil Noor said he would defend the Bukit Raya State seat against Fadzil Hanafi from Umno. He said altogether the party would contest in nine parliamentary and 30 State seats in the general election.

GRAPHIC: General Election 1995.

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