Fierce fight ahead if Khairy contests Seremban, says DAP MP Loke

DAP's Anthony Loke Siew Fook predicts a fierce fight for his parliamentary seat of Seremban if Umno's Khairy Jamaluddin is fielded there at the 15th general election (GE15), as recently suggested by the Umno Youth wing in the constituency.

Loke, the DAP secretary-general who has held the seat for nine years, said Khairy was a politician of calibre, who would prove a strong opponent in whichever constituency he contests. 

"If he really does run in Seremban, the competition will be intense," he said in a Facebook post, adding that it would be one of the "hottest" seats in GE15. 

Khairy, the health minister in Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's Cabinet, said on Sept 4 that he would not defend his parliamentary seat of Rembau at the general election to come. 

He said he had been asked to give way to Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan, to allow him to contest the seat instead. 

Khairy, who has held the Rembau seat since 2008, said he did not yet know which parliamentary seat he would contest instead, adding that he was also open to the idea of not contesting at all.

Seremban Umno Youth chief Zool Amali Hussin later suggested that Khairy contest in Seremban, citing among others an increasing number of young Malay voters in the constituency. 

"It would be a great loss if Khairy does not contest in GE15," Zool was reported as saying. 

"Let him run in Seremban, a seat traditionally contested by MCA." 

Loke however said he was ready to defend his seat against Khairy or any other candidate nominated by the opposing side. 

"Let the people of Seremban evaluate and judge if I am qualified to continue representing their interests and speaking on their behalf in Parliament," he said.