Ghani Confident Of Beating Kit Siang In Gelang Patah

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman has expressed confidence in defeating DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang for the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat in the 13th General Election.

He hoped that campaigning for the hot seat would not raise racial issues which could create racial polarisation.

"I hope to get the support of all races in Gelang Patah," he told reporters after filing his nomination papers for the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat at the Johor Baharu Tengah Municipal Council hall here Saturday.

He said he would leave it to the constituency's 106,000 voters to choose the candidate who could best serve them.

Abdul Ghani, who is also Johor Barisan Nasional chairman, said the state and federal governments had carried out various development programmes in Gelang Patah, which is in the Iskandar Malaysia region.

Before becoming menteri besar, Abdul Ghani, who hails from Sungai Mati, Muar, was a deputy finance minister, as well as youth and sports minister, and had met Kit Siang at the Dewan Rakyat, 18 years ago, when he was a member of parliament.

After filing his nomination papers, Kit Siang said he would be using the DAP's rocket symbol during campaigning in Gelang Patah.

"We will go all-out to ensure victory for DAP and Pakatan Rakyat," he told reporters.

In the state seats under Gelang Patah, BN candidate Dr Zaini Abu Bakar will take on Pas vice-president Salahuddin Ayub in Nusajaya, while Liang Ah Chy will face Johor DAP chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau in Skudai.