JOHOR BARU: Tongue's have started wagging after DAP's incumbent Skudai assemblyman Tan Hong Ping (pic) was spotted at the Election Commission (EC) office in Jalan Ayer Molek here Monday (Feb 21).

       Tan, who is said to have been dropped by DAP as a candidate in the upcoming state elections, was spotted at the EC office at about 10am Monday.

       When approached and asked why the two-term incumbent was at the EC office, Tan remained coy and refused to answer any questions.

       Talk is rife that Tan is being courted by other political parties following his spat with Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong.

       Liew was supposed to purge Tan along with four other assemblymen aligned with him in the upcoming state polls, but had to bow down to pressure and field at least three of the "famous five" due to pressure from grassroots and the party leadership.

       The five incumbents headed by Tan are not aligned to Liew's group.

       DAP is the only Pakatan Harapan party that has yet to announce all its candidates for the state elections. PKR is gunning for 20 seats while Amanah has targeted 16.

       So far, DAP has announced at least 11 of its 14 contesting candidates.

       More to come