‘DAP Malay candidate a safety cushion’
No government can last in the state for fortnight if it does not have calibre Malay candidates, says Penang Malay Congress.
Hawkeye, FMT
GEORGE TOWN: The fielding of Malays as DAP candidates in Penang is just a “safety deposit” for Pakatan Rakyat in the coming general election, said a Malay NGO.
Rahmad Isahak, the Penang Malay Congress chief, said PAS and PKR have failed to secure the Malay ground since 2008 although the opposition’s leader Anwar Ibrahim hails from the state.
“No government can last in Penang for two weeks if it does not have calibre Malay candidates to sit in the state government,” said Rahmad.
To avoid a scenerio where all of Pakatan’s non Malays win in the next polls while all of its Malay candidates lose in Penang, it is best to allow DAP to field Malay candidates to strategically leverage against such a possibility, he said.
Rahmad said that DAP had risen to become a prominent party here, and it is best that it reflects its ambition to be a truly multi-ethnic party under its ‘Malaysia Malaysian’ slogan.
“What better way to reflect its multi-ethnic leanings by parading a multi-racial candidates list in a state as diverse as Penang?” he asked.
Rahmad alleged that there was a fracture within PKR over the choice of candidates and seat allocations, while its leaders were suffering from an inferiority complex dealing with DAP.
For example, Rahmad said state PKR chairman Mansor Othman was allegedly quoted in a leaked taped recording, describing DAP secretary-general and chief minister Lim Guan Eng as arrogant.
“PAS is also dealing with its own “demons” as its former state youth wing head Mohammad Hafiz Noordin has been critical of the party of late,” said Rahmad.
“DAP Malay candidates may able to stave off a spirited challenge from BN, led by Umno and “hold the fort” in the event PAS and PKR candidates lose heavily in Penang,” he added.
Malays still struggling
Rahmad said his views were based on the present political realities confronting the Malays in Penang. He also rebuked another Malay NGO called PAJIM for suggesting that the congress is not the voice of the Malay community here.
