“It was totally unexpected. I was told the decision was made at the eleventh hour. They had to persuade Loong Thye, a lawyer, to do so.”
Chia, 56, said he was not involved in the selection of candidates.
He said not many people know he and Loong Thye, 50, are brothers.
“My advice to my brother is that he should serve the people with integrity and have their interests at heart. What’s important now is to win the election.”
Newcomer:Chia Loong Thye who will contest the Tanjung Bungah state seat.
Tanjung Bungah was Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon’s state seat. He had vacated the seat for the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat.
Tanjung Bungah, together with Pulau Tikus, Kebun Bunga and Air Putih come under the Bukit Bendera parliamentary constituency.
Chia is incumbent Bukit Bendera MP.
Loong Thye, who is Gerakan state legal aid bureau chief and long-time party member, said taking on the chief minister’s seat would be a challenge to him.
“Tan Sri (Dr Koh) has done so much good work in Tanjung Bunga. I will have to do my best to continue his legacy,” he said.
(Source : Star)
