DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng conceded that DAP will face a stiff fight in the Cameron Highlands by-election on Jan 26.

Lim said MIC would be at an advantage as the party had held the parliamentary seat for a long time. 

"The seat has never been won by Pakatan Harapan or DAP. Indeed, it will be a stiff fight. 

"Although the advantage is on the side of MIC, we will endeavour to create history by winning Cameron Highlands so that the people can experience sustainable economic and development results.

"We don’t want solely development, we want sustainable development, specifically in a green area like Cameron Highlands,’’ he told reporters after launching the Bukit Gelugor Customs Housing Lift Upgrading Project today.

Asked about the candidate for the seat, Lim said the DAP central executive committee would meet this week to discuss the candidate who would be contesting at the by-election after which an announcement will be made.

"We will be having a CEC meeting first over the next few days, then we will make the announcement. I will make the announcement because we also want to make preparations," he said.

On June 4, DAP candidate M Manogaran filed a petition seeking a declaration that the outcome for the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat held by C Sivarraajh of MIC was null and void for flouting the General Elections Act 1954.

The Election Commission on Dec 28 confirmed that Sivarraajh was not qualified to contest in the by-election.

In GE14, Sivarraajh won the Cameron Highlands Parliamentary seat by garnering 10,307 votes, beating Manogaran of PKR with 9,710 votes; Wan Mahadir Wan Mahmud of PAS (3,587 votes); Mohd Tahir Kassim of Berjasa (81 votes) and B Suresh Kumar of Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) (680 votes).

- Bernama