GE15: Incumbent Tebrau MP Choong not defending his seat

JOHOR BARU: In just one day before Nomination Day, incumbent Tebrau MP Steven Choong has announced that he will not be defending his seat in the 15th General Election (GE15).

This comes just hours after confirming that he will be defending his seat in the upcoming polls under the Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) ticket.

“I thank the party leadership, the Tebrau grassroots and many supporters who wished that I contest in GE15, but after careful consideration, I have decided not to do so in order to focus on my new tasks.

“I have embarked on a doctoral program that will take four to five years to complete. I also need time to help build up the party and grassroots.

“All the above need my personal commitments and will literally leave me with little time to effectively serve the people,” he said in a Facebook post here on Friday (Nov 4) night.

The PBM vice-president, who won the Tebrau seat with under PKR in GE14, also revealed that he left his previous party after finding out that he will be dropped from contesting in GE15.

“Everyone would have noticed that those who was associated with Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali or Datuk Zuraidah Kamaruddin at one time or another or did not support Rafizi Ramli had been dropped from contesting in GE15.

“I was told by someone way back in January 2021 that my name would be dropped and I will not be able to stand in GE15.

“Since I knew I would not be given a chance to contest after parliament had been dissolved, I decided to support the government of the day so that I will be able to help the Tebrau constituent and render my service to the constituents beyond Tebrau, as I could have access to all ministers and government agencies,” he said.

He also said that he had not betrayed the people of Tebrau by leaving his former party.

“I had not betrayed the people’s mandate as claimed by cybertroopers, as I had not participated in the Sheraton Move that brought down the Pakatan Harapan government.

“I had remained in PKR for another 12 months before making the move to support the Perikatan Nasional government.

“My move had not brought down the Federal Government nor has it affected any administrative power. Instead, my move enabled me to serve the people and business community better, especially those living in Tebrau,” he added.

Choong had earlier announced that he will be defending his Tebrau seat, while Datuk Seri Dr Edmund Santhara Kumar, who recently joined PBM, will be defending his Segamat seat.