DAP already preparing to face-off with PAS in Selangor, Pua says

(Malay Mail Online) – The DAP has begun preparing the ground work to contest PAS in eight state seats currently held by the Islamist party in Selangor, Tony Pua said today.

Pua, who is Selangor DAP chief and Petaling Jaya Utara MP, said his party is confident it can wrest the seats from PAS in the 14th general election, declaring them “winnable” due to the DAP’s growing influence in the constituencies.

“These are the eight seats that we believe we have significant influence and there and we believe in the event that there are a three corner fight, we can emerge victorious,” Pua told a press conference held at the party’s headquarters here.

The seats are Taman Templer, Lembah Jaya, Paya Jeras, Sri Serdang, Meru, Cempaka, Dusun Tua and Tanjung Sepat.

Most are Malay-majority seats with a significant number of Chinese voters.

Hypothetically, DAP’s chances of winning these seats are high considering that the Malay votes are traditionally split evenly between Umno and PAS.

The Islamist party, which cut ties with the DAP and broken off from the opposition bloc after a fallout over its plan to implement hudud in Kelantan, currently controls 15 seats in Selangor.

Pua today said they will launch their campaign for the eight seats in Taman Templer — which is currently held by PAS executive councillor Zaidy Abdul Talib — before expanding to the other seats.

He said the party is expected to make an official announcement during at a coming ceramah at Selayang Prima in Selayang, which comes under the Taman Templer state constituency.

Pua, however, said the party would first consult with its partners in the newly formed opposition coalition, Pakatan Harapan, before proceeding with the official announcement.

Asked if its plan could affect ties with PKR, the Petaling Jaya Utara MP said he saw no problem with the DAP pursuing the seats since PAS had already announced its intention to wrest DAP-held seats in the upcoming national polls.

“It is not going to affect anything,” Pua said when asked to comment on the matter.

Two days ago PKR declared that it would continue working with PAS despite opposition from its partners in Pakatan Harapan, arguing that only with a united front can the opposition realistically hope to topple Barisan Nasional.

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali announced earlier this month that his party remains committed to welcoming both the conservative Islamist party and PSM into Pakatan Harapan, as well as other opposition parties from Sabah and Sarawak.