Teo said the party felt that Marina was “the most winnable candidate” for the seat, which would help the party step out of its traditional strongholds.
She also said she had intended to propose that Marina be made the chairman of a statutory body, regardless of the outcome of the elections.
“To assure her that the party would stand by her regardless of the outcome of the Johor election, I also shared my intention to propose her as the chairman of a statutory body, which I believe she can contribute constructively,” Teo said.
Her comments came in a statement in response to Marina’s announcement earlier today that she was leaving politics and would not seek re-election in Skudai.
In a Facebook post, Teo said she offered her regrets if the offer of a different seat had upset Marina. She said she respected Marina’s decision and was saddened that she would skip the next state election.
Teo also revealed that when the party offered Marina the opportunity to contest the Skudai state seat, in 2022, it had already been made clear that it would be for only one term.
“The strategic roadmap was for her to first establish a solid reputation as an elected representative, after which we would need capable, young leaders like her to expand our influence into our non-traditional constituencies.”
Teo added that as seat negotiations among Johor Pakatan Harapan parties are still ongoing, there was a strong possibility that DAP would contest an urban seat won by PH in 2018. She did not name the seat.
“The leadership feels that fielding a Malay candidate in such an urban seat is a highly strategic move and a vital opportunity for us to step out of our traditional strongholds. In our view, Marina is the most winnable candidate for this mission.
“If the offer to contest in a new seat has upset Marina in any way, I would like to officially record my regrets. It is, however, my responsibility as Johor DAP chairman to formulate the best possible strategy for the party facing the upcoming state polls,” she said.
Marina won the Skudai seat in the March 2022 state assembly elections; She secured 26,359 votes, defeating Lim Soon Hai of Barisan Nasional, who garnered 12,416 votes, and Khoo Keng Ek of Perikatan Nasional, who received 6,258 votes.
She had joined DAP as a member of the party’s Indahpura branch in 2017, which she continues to lead as chairman, and was also appointed to the Kulai Municipal Council in 2018.