PKR and DAP face backlash
(The Star) – Unhappiness over candidacy has boiled over, with PKR division chiefs and members in several states protesting the leadership’s choices and a DAP leader in Johor lashing out at his party.
Disgruntled Perak PKR division chiefs criticised the party’s top leadership over the allocation of seats and the use of its logo, especially by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.
The five – Mohd Khair Mohd Zainal (Kuala Kangsar), Usaili Alias (Parit), Adanan Talib (Tapah), Azalan Shah Banyamin (Lenggong) and Datuk Paduka Kahar Othman (Grik) – held a press conference here yesterday to voice out their dissatisfaction.
“We fought with our blood, sweat and tears to set up the party, and now the leadership is giving away the logo to others,” said Usaili.
“We have party grassroots and leaders working hard, but when it comes to seats, some have been reserved for Pribumi instead.
“The top leadership should consult with us first, but failed to do so. I will not be surprised that if Pribumi wins its seats, the candidates jump ship,” Adanan said.
Kahar said the people who have been working hard were not given a chance to contest, while outsiders were brought in instead.
In Johor Baru, former state DAP chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau launched into a tirade against the party after he was replaced with his former protege Tan Hong Ping as the candidate for the Skudai state seat.
A wide rift has grown between the two, with two-term Skudai assemblyman Dr Boo accusing Mengkibol assemblyman Tan of stabbing him in the back.
“I didn’t do anything to hurt DAP. I’ve never complained about spending money to cultivate my assistant but they asked my assistant to betray me,” Dr Boo said in a video clip dated April 22.
In a meet-and-greet session with voters at a coffee shop, he said: “Asking the apprentice to defeat the master … you cannot find such vicious leaders in the world.”
Dr Boo also said, as the party had demanded that Barisan Nasional leaders involved in graft should step down, DAP’s own higher-ups must also lead by example.
“Party leaders who are charged with graft should quit,” he said.
He also quashed talk that he would leave the party or contest as an independent.
In Seremban, a group of PKR members from Rembau expressed unhappiness with the chosen candidate there, a day after others in the party protested the party’s choice of candidate for the Port Dickson parliamentary seat.
Rembau PKR Youth member Zarizal Abdul Rahman said some members were not happy about the nomination of Lt-Kol (Rtd) Roseli Abdul Ghani whose name was apparently the only one proposed by the division head.
“We felt he was not the candidate to take on Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin (the Rembau incumbent) and we were then told by the leadership that our views would be considered.
“However, since his name was announced on Tuesday, we have again written to our central leadership and they have agreed to meet us this time,” he said outside the state PKR office here.
Zarizal said they were advised by the leadership to remain calm, “so I will refrain from saying what we will do if the leadership refuses to name another candidate”.
On Monday, a PKR group from Port Dickson said the party made a wrong choice in picking division vice-chief Rosman Jonet to contest there and claimed that Pertubuhan Veteran Perwira Negara Malaysia president Datuk Halim Khomiza, who is Teluk Kemang PKR vice-chief, stood a better chance.
State PKR chief Aminuddin Harun said all political parties faced a similar problem whenever they announced candidates.
In Petaling Jaya, Kapar PKR members said they are disappointed that an Indian candidate was not chosen to stand in the federal seat.
About 50 people, comprising Kapar PKR members and voters, gathered in front of the party’s headquarters here yesterday to protest the party’s choice.
Kuala Langat MP Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid has been fielded to contest in Kapar in GE14, replacing incumbent G. Manivannan.
“Traditionally, Kapar has been an Indian seat. Now, PKR puts up a Malay candidate.
“So we are not satisfied,” said Kapar PKR grassroots member M. Tamilvanan.
The group of protesters handed over a memorandum to PKR operations manager Nurul Zainuddin.
