Linda Tsen, PBS Candidate

On Sunday, BN announced their candidate, Linda Tsen Thau Lin, the 54-year-old widow of the late Edmund Chong Ket Wah. As The Malaysian Insider opined, Tsen’s candidacy is a coup for BN because of the popularity of her late husband, whose death two weeks ago from a road accident triggered this by-election. Certainly, her campaign to replace her husband will rely on the emotional attachment many in the constituency had for Chong, a popular MP with strong ties within the community. Why, even her strongest rival, SAPP’s Yong Teck Lee is close to her family.

It is true that SAPP has no choice but to contest in the Batu Sapi by-election. It is a Sabah-based party after all – win or lose, they have to try. Still, it is better for them to join with Pakatan so that votes are not split among the opposition. Regrettably, no agreement could be reached between the two parties.


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