Show some respect, DAP tells PKR
Pahang DAP takes its PKR counterpart to task over the latter’s remarks with regard to DAP wanting extra seats.
Athi Shankar, FMT
CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Pahang PKR’s leadership should learn to respect DAP as a senior partner in Pakatan Rakyat.
State DAP vice-chairman J Apalasamy also reminded PKR state chairman Fauzi Abdul Rahman that it was his party that gave seats to PKR to contest in Pahang in the 2008 general election.
“He should not forget that when lashing out against DAP in the media. He should remember DAP is a much more senior party than PKR in Malaysian politics. He should learn to show some respect to senior partners in Pakatan, especially to DAP,” he told FMT.
Apalasamy was irked by Fauzi’s media outburst against DAP for requesting extra seats in Pahang – one parliament and two state from PKR for the next general election.
DAP was keen to contest the Damak and Teruntum state seats as well as the Bentong federal constituency. PKR contested those seats in 2008.
Fauzi had criticised DAP for lacking discipline in asking the seats.
He said that although it was not wrong for DAP to request for additional seats, it must be done through the proper channels and with mutual consent.
Apalasamy returned fire, reminding Fauzi that DAP proved to be more discipline as the party allowed unelected PKR supremo and Permatang Pauh MP Anwar Ibrahim to be the Opposition Leader despite having 29 MPs which was more than PKR’s 26.
“Moreover PKR is prevalent with defections than DAP,” he said.
In 2008, DAP contested two federal – Cameron Highlands and Raub – and seven state seats, winning only the Triang and Tras state constituencies.
PKR contested six federal and 13 state seats, winning only the Indera Mahkota and Kuantan parliamentary constituencies.
Apalasamy argued that DAP had better candidates to win those seats it was requesting.
Moreover, he reminded Fauzi that the results of the Sarawak election last year and a series of by-elections since 2008 have shown that DAP performed better than other Pakatan partners.
“So Fauzi should show some respect to us and be more disciplined,” he added.
