MIRI: Miri incumbent Dr Michael Teo must be a very disappointed man.
The two-term MP who purchased two sets of nomination forms on Oct 25 for the coming general election (GE15), was replaced by Angkatan Muda Keadilan Sarawak (AMK) secretary Chiew Choon Man.
Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) dropped Dr Teo from its list of candidates which it announced yesteday.
He had announced in his Facebook posting on Oct 27 that he wanted to defend the seat, citing some “unfinished work” and that he needed another term.
However, on Tuesday party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced at a press conference it was fielding new comer, lawyer Chiew, 31, to defend the seat.
Dr Teo was not present when the names of the Sarawak PKR candidates were announced at the Jelajah Mega Harapan here.
PKR is fielding candidates, the majority of whom are new faces, in 16 seats.
Sarawak chairman Roland Engan will stand in Baram and Information and Communication chief Abun Sui Anyit is nominated for the Hulu Rejang seat.
Both Roland and Abun are contesting these seats for the third time.
The other candidates are Diog Dios (Puncak Borneo), Sopian Julaihi (Petra Jaya), Tay Wei Wei (Sri Aman), Ibil Jaya (Saratok), Mohd Fauzi Abdullah Joseph (Kanowit), Racha Balang (Limbang), Japar Suyut (Lawas), Abdul Jalil Bujang (Mukah), Langga Lias (Lubok Antu), Patrick Kamis (Betong), Khusyairy Pangkas Abdullah (Kapit), Zolhaidah Suboh (Sibuti) and Umpang Sabang (Selangau).
Meanwhile, attempts by New Sarawak Tribune to contact Dr Teo in the last two days were futile as the calls went unanswered.
A party official said the former MP was not ready to field questions from the media yet but would issue a statement tomorrow.
Dr Teo was first elected in 2013 and retained the seat in a straight fight in 2018.
