GE15: Deepak out, local boy Loh to contest in Pulai for PN

JOHOR BARU: Perikatan Nasional has made a last-minute switch in Johor, with Tebrau Gerakan division chief Loh Kah Yong now being fielded in the Pulai parliamentary seat instead of JR Deepak Jaikishan.

The change came just hours after state Perikatan election director Rasman Ithnain denied talk of Deepak being replaced.

When contacted on Friday (Nov 4), Loh confirmed that he will be contesting the seat in the 15th General Election (GE15).

ALSO READ: GE15: Deepak remains as Pulai candidate, says Johor PN

“The decision was just made yesterday (Nov 3) after discussion among the central leadership,” he said.

Loh contested the Puteri Wangsa seat during the March state elections but lost to Muda’s Amira Aisya Abd Aziz.

On Wednesday (Nov 2), Johor Gerakan chairman Datuk Teo Kok Chee told The Star that party president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau had someone else in mind to contest in Pulai under the Perikatan banner.

“It will be a local candidate. The decision was made soon after the announcement of Perikatan candidates by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Tuesday (Nov 1) night.

“We were not informed about his (Deepak’s) candidacy as all matters were decided by Perikatan central leadership prior to the announcement,” he said.

ALSO READ: GE15: Perikatan reconsiders JR Deepak’s candidacy for the Pulai parliamentary seat

Deepak, who owns a carpet business, became a well-known figure in local politics after claiming both former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor were involved in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

He had also sued Najib and Rosmah over an alleged conspiracy that he claimed led to him suffering losses.

However, his case was thrown out by the Court of Appeal on Oct 8.