JOHOR BAHRU: Speculation about Liew Chin Tong being a candidate was spot on when DAP announced him as their candidate for Perling.

       Marina Ibrahim was also announced as the party's candidate for the Skudai state seat.

       DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng made the announcement during a DAP event in Hotel Impiana at Senai on Thursday (Feb 24).

       "Marina is very active in DAP and I think locals know of her track record," said Lim, before he played a video explaining Marina's background.

       Liew's candidacy for Perling was accidentally revealed after the emcee of the event accidentally shared the wrong presentation slide.

       The crowd, which consisted of mainly DAP leaders, however, cheered at the error by the emcee.

       DAP's announcement on Thursday confirmed that both incumbents for Skudai and Perling, Tan Hong Pin and Cheo Yee How, were dropped.

       Meanwhile, Lim, who spoke subsequently, then joked about the error by the emcee.

       "Am I still needed to announce the candidate (for Perling)?" Lim quipped.

       Lim said Liew will be the right candidate to serve locals in Perling, given his previous experience serving the Federal Government and the Penang state government.

       Liew, who spoke after Lim, said Perling would be the first state seat he was contesting in his political career, as he previously contested in the parliamentary seats of Bukit Bendera, Kluang and Ayer Hitam.

       "This is my first time contesting at a state seat and it was instructions from the leadership.

       After the two candidates were announced, Lim then handed down Pakatan Harapan endorsement letters to all of its 14 candidates in the upcoming state election.

       Among the 14 seats DAP contested were Tangkak, Senai, Yong Peng, Pekan Nenas, Bentayan, Bekok, Johor Jaya, Mengkibol, Penggaram, Stulan, Johor Jaya, Paloh.