Headline Pakatan may unravel over seat MediaTitle Date 15 Mar 2013 Language English Circulation 136,530 Readership 330,000 Section Local News Color Full Color Page No 24 ArticleSize 410 cm² AdValue RM 13,376 PR Value RM 40,128

Johor Pakatan may unravel over Gelang Patah seat DAP­PKR RIVALRY: All eyes on DAP dinner on Monday for hint on who will contest seat

Pas commissioner Datuk Mahfodz THE bespectacled man Mohamed's offer to mediate in the sounded jovial on the other squabble ignored. end of the line. The sore Accusations of Chua committing subversive acts against Johor DAP THE bespectacled man throat, which he had been suf­ have also yet to recede, as the dis­ solution of Parliament fering from for the past two days, nears. It is no longer an open secret that every­ did not stop Dr thing is not fine and dandy down south. from speaking to this writer. Nevertheless, Dr Boo sounded jovial on the other He was excited about DAP's com­ gave his best showman­ ship of public relations ed ing 47th anniversary to be cele­ skills when asked if Chua anNST brated in , Johor. Thou­ was invited to the DAP imalist anniversary gathering on sands — which is the propagan­ Monday. Perhaps, it was a dised description of how many show of a political camaraderie, end of the line. The sore with a tinge of comical sarcasm. would be gathering at the venue in "Who? Oh (you are talking about) my best friend! Yes, of course, I Taman Sutera — will stand before invited him. I do not want to be so petty over it (the Johor DAP­PKR top leaders. row). As far as I'm concerned, we DAP is now close to being SO are okay now. No more fighting. throat, which he had been suf­ years old. It was founded by Sin­ "I've talked to him recently and gapore's former People's Action f Party members in October 1965 and registered itself as a democratic socialist party a year later. fering from for the past two days, As the Johor DAP chief, Dr Boo needs no introduction. By now he is wellknown for his spat with his everything is all right now. We state Parti Ke­adilan Rakyat (PKR) did not stop Dr Boo Cheng Hau counterpart, the slick­haired Datuk . The tussle for the Chinese­ma­ jority Gelang Patah parliamentary should be looking at the bigger seat between DAP and PKR is yet to from speaking to this writer. reach an end, unless this writer is not correctly informed on the issue by party insiders. He was excited about DAP's com­ However, political observers noted that the claim for what is picture," said Dr Boo, implying that touted as a winnable seat for Pakatan, is eroding the coalition's ing 47th anniversary to be cele­ unity at the state level, with Johor he wanted to be the better man in brated in Skudai, Johor. Thou­ Pas commissioner Datuk Mahfodz resolving the fiasco. sands — which is the propagan­ Mohamed's offer to mediate in the Well, that's what he said, since dised description of how many squabble ignored. his "friend" has yet to would be gathering at the venue in Accusations of Chua committing Taman Sutera — will stand before subversive acts against Johor DAP return the three phone top Pakatan Rakyat leaders. calls made to his mobile DAP is now close to being SO have also yet to recede, as the dis­ solution of Parliament phone for a comment. years old. It was founded by Sin­ gapore's former People's Action nears. It is no longer an Perhaps Chua is still hurt f Party members in October 1965 and open secret that every­ or ruminating on the registered itself as a democratic thing is not fine and consequences stemming socialist party a year later. dandy down south. from the controversy. As the Johor DAP chief, Dr Boo Nevertheless, Dr Boo His credibility has also needs no introduction. By now he gave his best showman­ been described as "sus­ is wellknown for his spat with his ship of public relations state Parti Ke­adilan Rakyat (PKR) skills when asked if Chua pect" by DAP stalwart counterpart, the slick­haired Datuk was invited to the DAP Karpal Singh. Dr Boo's Chua Jui Meng. The tussle for the Chinese­ma­ anniversary gathering on deputy and loyalist Norman Fer­ jority Gelang Patah parliamentary Monday. Perhaps, it was a nandez has reduced Chua's osten­ seat between DAP and PKR is yet to show of a political sible behaviour to being akin to that reach an end, unless this writer is with a tinge of comical sarcasm. of a "kindergartener". not correctly informed on the issue "Who? Oh (you are talking about) The strained relationship be­ by party insiders. my best friend! Yes, of course, I tween the leaders of Johor PKR and However, political observers invited him. I do not want to be so noted that the claim for what is petty over it (the Johor DAP­PKR DAP may not appear to be at its touted as a winnable seat for row). As far as I'm concerned, we lowest ebb now but, at the same Pakatan, is eroding the coalition's are okay now. No more fighting. time, it reeks of uncertainty as the unity at the state level, with Johor "I've talked to him recently and Headline Johor Pakatan may unravel over Gelang Patah seat MediaTitle New Straits Times Date 15 Mar 2013 Language English Circulation 136,530 Readership 330,000 Section Local News Color Full Color Page No 24 ArticleSize 410 cm² AdValue RM 13,376 PR Value RM 40,128

ruckus had become full­blown in ruckus had become full­blown in the media. the media. It is understood that the state It is understood that the state DAP's ego was initially bruised DAP's ego was initially bruised when Chua made a move to lobby when Chua made a move to lobby for the Gelang Patah seat, which is for the Gelang Patah seat, which is now being held by Barisan Na­ now being held by Barisan Na­ sional's Tan Ah Heng after defeat­ sional's Tan Ah Heng after defeat­ ing PKR's Dr Zalina Mustafa by ing PKR's Dr Zalina Mustafa by more than a 8,000­vote majority in more than a 8,000­vote majority in 2008. 2008. "DAP wants that seat because the "DAP wants that seat because the party will have a bigger chance to party will have a bigger chance to win it. The seat used to be theirs win it. The seat used to be theirs before they 'leased' it to PKR. before they 'leased' it to PKR. "PKR had lost the seat twice and "PKR had lost the seat twice and now they want Chua to contest it," now they want Chua to contest it," said Universiti Utara 's Dr said Universiti Utara Malaysia's Dr Muhammad Fuad Othman. Muhammad Fuad Othman. Both Dr Boo and Chua have been Both Dr Boo and Chua have been told by their respective party lead­ told by their respective party lead­ ers, DAP secretary­general Lim ers, DAP secretary­general Lim Guan Eng and PKR de facto leader Guan Eng and PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri , not to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, not to comment further on the issue. comment further on the issue. It is expected that during the It is expected that during the DAP anniversary gathering in Sku­ DAP anniversary gathering in Sku­ dai, which is under the Gelang Patah parliamentary constituency, dai, which is under the Gelang Dr Boo and Chua will hold each Patah parliamentary constituency, other's hands to form the usual Dr Boo and Chua will hold each "human chain of unity" with other other's hands to form the usual Pakatan leaders. "human chain of unity" with other Both will pose with a wide smile Pakatan leaders. or a brotherly hug before the bat­ Both will pose with a wide smile tery of cameras. They will chant or a brotherly hug before the bat­ the "Ubah" (change) mantra in tery of cameras. They will chant unison and pump their fists in the the "Ubah" (change) mantra in air in an affectionate display of unison and pump their fists in the togetherness. air in an affectionate display of But no one can be certain if both togetherness. men have actually found an am­ But no one can be certain if both icable solution to the feud, even if a men have actually found an am­ special announcement on who will icable solution to the feud, even if a actually contest the Gelang Patah special announcement on who will seat is made that night. Time can actually contest the Gelang Patah DAP nor PKR can seat is made that night. Time can heal the pain, but that is the luxury neither the state DAP nor PKR can <+ [email protected] afford now. <+ [email protected]

Datuk Chua Jui Meng has been Dr Boo Cheng Hau calls Chua his invited to the DAP anniversary 'best friend' and says 'everything is dinner on Monday all right now in Johor Pakatan'