DAP to field more Malay candidates in GE

ARCHIVES 2012

By admin-s On Dec 17, 2012

Senator Dr Ariffin S M Omar being interviewed after being picked to be a new DAP vice-chairman.

(fz.com) – DAP will field more Malay candidates at the next general election in a bid to boost its multi-racial appeal as party strategists shrug off criticism of its party polls outcome.

DAP’s multi-racial credentials came under attack after none of its eight Malay contestants were voted in to the party’s central executive committee (CEC) in yesterday’s elections.

DAP election strategist Ong Kian Ming told fz.com that although the uproar could hurt DAP in the short term, public perception on DAP could change once the party unveils its candidate list.

Ong said DAP is “very likely” to field credible Malay candidates to “winnable” seats in Peninsular Malaysia.

At the 2008 general election, DAP fielded two Malay candidates but both were unsuccessful in their bid to be elected.

In Johor, DAP had fielded its long-time member Ahmad Ton in the Tanjong Piai parliamentary and Pekan Nenas state constituencies.

Over in Pahang, the party’s then state vice-chairman Abu Bakar Lebai Sudin stood against Wanita MCA chief Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen for the Raub parliamentary seat.

Ong said almost all of DAP’s seats in the peninsula were considered “winnable”.

This is because DAP’s seats are mostly Chinese-majority seats or have high proportion of Chinese voters, with the exception of Raub.