In Sabah, DAP denies being ‘arrogant, Malaya party’

(MMO) – Under fire from state Opposition parties, DAP’s Sabah chapter insisted today that it was in touch with locals and making inroads into areas beyond its traditional strongholds in cities and towns.

State chairman Stephen Wong also rejected allegations that DAP was an “arrogant, Malaya party” that was content to remain the Opposition.

“We are not arrogant as some are saying. We are in no position to be. We are not greedy, we want to serve. Our goal is to topple the BN (Barisan Nasional) government and we are willing to work together.

“Although we are the second biggest party in Malaysia, we are not asking for that many seats, or more than what we can win,” he said.

The party continues to be viewed with suspicion by locals due to the prominence of its federal leaders.

It was accused of arrogance after unilaterally announcing its intention to contest in 12 state and five parliamentary seats in the 14th general election.

Wong said today that DAP has reasons for the announcement.

“We have already settled the seats allocation within Pakatan Harapan. So now the window is open to discuss with local parties,” he said.

He added that DAP’s share within the pact was actually 17 state and seven parliamentary seats in Sabah, including those it contested in the last election.

Wong added that it was not arrogant to claim the seats as DAP has worked hard to penetrate areas such as Bingkor in the Keningau constituency and Sook in Pensiangan.

“We have been working on some areas since the last election. You can go to the ground and judge for yourself whether our presence has made an impact. Don’t just ask the people around you, ask Special Branch to know the real picture.

“We want 17 out of 60 (state) seats. Is that a lot?” he said.

He said that the party had a good track record of winning half of the four Parliament seats and eight state seats it contested in the 2013 elections with its losses being close calls, and have been cultivating some seats since then.

When asked when the party would enter talks with the other Opposition leaders, Wong said they were hoping to work out an agreement with the local Opposition, in particular Parti Warisan Sabah, helmed by former Umno vice president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal who he is due to meet next week.

“Personally, we have good relationships with everybody. We have no personal agenda against anyone,” he said, including Likas assemblyman and former DAP secretary Junz Wong who is now Warisan vice president.

DAP secretary Chan Foong Hin also said that he hoped Shafie, as a veteran politician could lead the Opposition into successful negotiations and avoid public media disputes that could give the voters the wrong idea that the Opposition was at loggerheads.