Bukit Gelugor: Easy win for DAP without BN presence - analyst

DAP is expected to retain its hold on the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seat without much difficulties.

The seat has historically been a DAP stronghold and coupled with the absence of a candidate from MCA, political analyst Khoo Kay Peng predicts an easy win for DAP.

Four candidates will contest for the Bukit Gelugor seat, left vacant following the death of Karpal Singh.

DAP candidate and Karpal’s son, Ramkarpal Singh will be up against Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) president Huan Cheng Guan and independents Mohd Nabi Bux Mohd Abd Sathar and Abu Backer Sidek Mohammad Zan.

“The voters will look into a few factors. Firstly, there is no challenge from BN. Secondly, voters will give a chance to Karpal’s son to represent them. His performance will be judged four years from now,” Khoo said in an interview with Astro AWANI.

With BN or MCA opting out of the contest, Khoo expects the hudud issue will not be played up during campaigning.

“If MCA is contesting, they will actively bring up the hudud issue to force the Pakatan Rakyat component parties to make a stand. With BN opting to sit out the by-election, I doubt that they will be able to bring up the hudud issue effectively,” he added.

Based on the 2013 electoral roll, there were 82,042 voters in Bukit Gelugor with 61,112 (74.49 percent) being Chinese, 11,880 (14.48 percent) Malays, 8,660 Indians and 390 other races.