By Danial Dzulkifly
HULU SELANGOR, April 24 — The Selangor Unity coalition has named Pang Sock Tao, 31, the candidate in the upcoming Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election.
Pang, from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), previously served as press secretary for Housing and Local Government Minister Ng Kor Ming prior to her candidacy.
The announcement was made by DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke in the presence of Selangor Pakatan Harapan (Harapan) chairman and Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, Selangor DAP chief Gobind Singh Deo, and several party leaders from the Unity pact at Taman Gamelan in Kuala Kubu Baharu, here tonight.
In his speech tonight, Loke said Pang was among 10 other shortlisted female candidates for the polls and was chosen due to her strong career in politics and public service.
“She was also chosen because she is a candidate who can equally care for the Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Orang Asli communities.
“She was also chosen due to her political experience. She had previously served in several ministries, including under the former minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment, and Climate Change, Yeo Bee Yin, and Nga Kor Ming in his capacity as the current minister. She was even a host and producer for Ubah TV, a party information channel.
“Being a woman candidate, she can also champion women’s empowerment in the state constituency,” said Loke in his speech before announcing Pang’s candidacy.
The by-election was called following the death of its former state assemblyman, Lee Kee Hiong, who passed away on March 21 after a long battle with cancer.
Lee, 58, had represented her constituency since 2013, winning the seat in three consecutive state elections.
Kuala Kubu Baharu is a traditional DAP seat. In the 15th general election (GE15), the party retained its seat with a 4,119 majority.
Lee garnered 14,862 total votes against Teoh Kien Hong from Perikatan Nasional (PN) (10,743 votes), R. Siva Prakash from Muda (1,186 votes), and Chng Boon Lai from Parti Rakyat Malaysia (527 votes).
The state seat consists of 46.4 per cent Malay voters, 30.7 per cent Chinese voters, 18 per cent Indian, and 5 per cent of other ethnicities.
The Election Commission (EC) announced that the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election will be held on May 11, with nomination day on April 27. Early voting is on May 7.
