DAP has announced that the party is fielding seven new faces for the coming state election.
New faces made up 36.84% and the average age of the candidates was 46.5.
Former Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, 36, was named a candidate for Padang Lalang, the seat previously held by caretaker Penang Social Development and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Chong Eng. Meanwhile, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) councillor Wong Yuee Harng, 35, is set to contest in Pengkalan Kota.
New face Phee Syn Tze, 38, has been chosen to contest in Sungai Puyu, taking the place of veteran DAP politician Phee Boon Poh, who will not be defending his seat. Syn Tze is the daughter of Boon Poh, who is the caretaker Penang Welfare and Environment Committee chairman.
Caretaker Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy will not be defending his Perai seat. Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu, 61, an experienced leader in the Malaysia property industry, is set to contest in Perai.
Former local government councillor Joshua Woo Sze Zeng, 41, who is a master’s degree holder in Sustainable Development Management from Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, is set to contest in Pulau Tikus.
Another MBPP councillor Connie Tan Hooi Peng, 33, has also been named as a candidate for Seri Delima. The seat was previously held by Syerleena Abdul Rashid who is now the Bukit Bendera MP.
Meanwhile, former Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai, 50, is expected to contest in Paya Terubong, the seat previously held by caretaker state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin.
Also, caretaker state Youth and Sports Soon Lip Chee, who was the former Bagan Jermal assemblyman, will not be defending his seat. Instead, Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) councillor Chee Yeeh Keen, 41, has been named as the DAP candidate for Bagan Jermal.
Former MBSP councillor Kumaran Krishnan was chosen to contest in Bagan Dalam – the seat previously held by former assemblyman Satees Muniandy.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said it is the party’s KPI to make a clean sweep of all 19 seats the party is contesting in Penang.
“Let us ensure that a unity government is formed in Penang after the state election.
“DAP and Pakatan Harapan have decided to support caretaker Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to continue leading Penang towards excellence.
“To the candidates who have been given the mandate to represent the party in the state election, you have a heavy responsibility.
“Continue to keep the good image and do not tarnish the image of the party,” he said at Jen Hotel this evening.
Loke said he is confident that Penang DAP and Pakatan Harapan could deliver to the people, given its 15 years of achievements.
“We have results and achievements to show the Penangites. We are confident that we can show the people that Penang has progressed so much over the years under DAP and Pakatan Harapan,” he added.
Loke also said that DAP would continue to remain relevant.
“The party will provide opportunities to new faces to stay relevant.
“This is a normal process. The interest of the party is bigger than any individual,” he said.
Separately, Loke said former Pulau Tikus assemblyman Chris Lee has decided not to defend his seat over health concerns, and the party has other arrangements for former Paya Terubong assemblyman Yeoh Soon Hin.
The following is the list of Penang DAP candidates for the Penang state election fixed for Aug 12:
N07 SUNGAI PUYU – PHEE SYN TZE
N08 BAGAN JERMAL – CHEE YEEH KEEN
N09 BAGAN DALAM – KUMARAN KRISHNAN
N13 BERAPIT – HENG LEE LEE
N15 PADANG LALANG – GOOI ZI SEN (DANIEL)
N16 PERAI – SUNDARAJOO SOMU
N19 JAWI – H’NG MOOI LYE (JASON)
N22 TANJONG BUNGA – ZAIRIL KHIR JOHARI
N23 AIR PUTIH – LIM GUAN ENG
N25 PULAU TIKUS – WOO SZE ZENG (JOSHUA)
N26 PADANG KOTA – CHOW KON YEOW
N27 PENGKALAN KOTA – WONG YUEE HARNG
N28 KOMTAR – TEH LAI HENG
N29 DATOK KERAMAT – JAGDEEP SINGH DEO
N30 SUNGAI PINANG – LIM SIEW KHIM
N31 BATU LANCANG – ONG AH TEONG
N32 SERI DELIMA – TAN HOOI PENG (CONNIE)
N33 AIR ITAM – JOSEPH NG SOON SIANG
N34 PAYA TERUBONG – WONG HON WAI