No race tactics, MCLM tells opposition
By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 — The Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) praised DAP for doubling the number of its Sarawak state seats today but warned that non-Barisan Nasional (BN) parties should refrain from using race tactics.
While pleased that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had “breached” BN’s Sarawak stronghold, MCLM president Haris Ibrahim (picture) said the group was concerned that both sides were using “old” race politics to gain voter support.
He urged opposition groups to instead focus on issues that will guarantee a repeat strong performance — this time in rural areas — in order to secure the hornbill state’s parliamentary seats.
“A clear and united opposition to BN based on national as well as bread-and-butter issues can be achieved by forging our respective strengths under a common front,” he said in a statement today.
“It is notable that the popular votes for Barisan Nasional have been reduced from 63 per cent (2006 election) to 55 per cent, which augurs well for the opposition coalition in the run-up to the 13th general election.”
PR won 15 seats at the Sarawak state polls on Saturday, up from seven in 2006, but failed to deny BN its customary two-thirds majority in the state legislative assembly.
