But that’s the card fate has dealt him, and he says it is his “wildest dream come true” to go head to head with a political icon who has been around for over 50 years.
“When I was preparing my work for the general election months ago, the question of who would be my opponent did not cross my mind,” he said after attending a BN ceramah in Skudai yesterday.
The 48-year-old businessman, who describes himself as a local community leader, is also the constituency’s MCA chief.
Unlike his opponent, Teoh is a local, born and bred in the Johor town.
He was born on July 4, 1969, and completed his studies in Iskandar Puteri before pursuing higher education at TAR College where he graduated with an engineering degree in 1994. He joined MCA one year later.
He worked as an engineer in his hometown before being transferred to Singapore to work in the operations sector.
In 1995, Teoh started his own business which led to him giving back to the local community, especially after becoming the MCA branch secretary in Taman Universiti, Skudai.
His business involvement is diverse and covers the food and beverage and property investment sectors.
Seven-term MP
Teoh’s opponent, the 77-year-old Kit Siang, started contesting in elections in 1969. He was elected as Bandar Melaka MP that year.
He has since served as an MP for seven terms in different constituencies, and the DAP supremo is hoping to make it to his eighth term in the Dewan Rakyat come polling day on May 9.
Kit Siang’s candidacy for the 14th general election was in doubt after he fell down at his home last year. He also underwent surgery last November to remove a small tumour from his left kidney.
Even when his name cropped up as a candidate, there were rumours that Kit Siang might move from Iskandar Puteri to the Johor Bahru parliamentary seat.
That didn’t happen, however, as his son, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng confirmed last month that Kit Siang would defend the seat, which was formerly known as Gelang Patah.
Despite convincingly beating former Johor menteri besar Abdul Ghani Othman in 2013, Kit Siang may face a more formidable foe this time around.
Teoh said his “failed bid” to be the constituency’s candidate in 2013 had taught him a strong lesson about being better prepared.
“The moment I was rejected, I promised myself I must stand in the same constituency in the next general election.
“I served the locals for over 20 years and I want to push my political career to the next level.”
Teoh shot to fame earlier this year after his four-minute video clip entitled “Jason Teoh’s suffering” received widespread attention.
The video was seen as a move to lobby himself to stand in Iskandar Puteri. MCA deputy president Wee Ka Siong had also endorsed Teoh as the BN candidate to contest in the Chinese-majority seat.
Teoh said his contribution to the constituency over the years included the building of Chinese temples, and construction of roads and bridges.
Teoh, who also heads the Johor MCA public complaints bureau, said his support base includes people of all races and backgrounds.
“I believes the locals will choose a candidate who will fight for their rights, regardless of which political party.
“They would not want a person who doesn’t represent them.”
Until Kit Siang won the seat in 2013, Iskandar Puteri had been held by BN, whose winning candidates all came from MCA.
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