Try for PM, DAP urged after gunning for PAS seats

(Malay Mail Online) – A DAP member called on the party today to take risks and to start trying even for the post of prime minister and mentri besar, citing a large talent pool among its leaders.

Muhammad Shakir Ameer, an executive committee member of DAP Socialist Youth, said the DAP should also contest parliamentary seats currently held by PAS, after the Selangor chapter of the predominantly Chinese party announced it will prepare to contest eight such state seats.

“People say that DAP is power hungry. But we just have crazy ideas. And we know that they are workable,” Shakir said in a debate at the Selangor DAP convention.

The posts of prime minister and mentri besar are conventionally limited to Malay-Muslim candidates, although there is no constitutional provision against non-Malays.

Selangor DAP chairman Tony Pua said Friday that the DAP has begun preparing the ground work to contest PAS in eight state seats currently held by the Islamist party in Selangor.

The 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.

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.