PKR tells DAP: Don't be 'big-headed like Umno'

Susan Loone

DAP has been chided for asking more seats from its ally PKR so that its Malay candidates can contest in the coming general election.

Penang PKR information chief Johari Kassim said the DAP Malay leader who made the call recently was not wise to make such a statement as the 13th polls are expected to be called soon.

Johari (right) said with the election around the corner, he would advise state DAP central committee member Zulkifli Mohd Noor, who made the comment, "not to rock the boat".

He advised the DAP not to become like Umno, saying "When they win big, they become dominant in ruling the country and become big-head(ed)".

'If truly multiractial...'

"If the Malay DAP members need to contest seats in Penang, they should demand for some among the 19 they are currently holding," he told Malaysiakini.

"If DAP is truly sincere as a multi racial party, they should allocate a few seats for their Malay members with the current allocation they have now," he added.

Speculation is rife that Prime Minister Najib Razak may call for an early election in November, although it is not due until 2013.

On Friday, Zulkifli (left) said the DAP had “no choice” but to request at least one parliament and five state seats from PKR in Penang in the coming polls.

The Penang City Council member added that the party may be perceived to be "anti-Malay and chauvinistic" should it fail to field Malay candidates in the next election.

He stressed that he raised the issue as the party's Malay members and supporters, including several NGOs, are concerned that DAP may not field candidates from the community.

In March 2008, DAP contested 19 state seats in Penang, while PKR fought in 16 and PAS, five.

In parliamentary seats, DAP stood in seven while PKR contested four and PAS, two.

In total, the three parties won 29 out of 40 state seats and 11 out of 13 federal seats.

'Zulkifli's statement doesn't reflect DAP stand'

Johari reminded the veteran DAP leader that the party had strived very hard but failed to win as many seats before Pakatan Rakyat was formed.

He said that the winning factor was due to the double effect of PKR and its defacto leader Anwar Ibrahim (right), who is also opposition chief.

He added that PKR may be a "junior" party in Pakatan, but the party managed to obtain 32 seats in parliament in the 2008 polls.

"I hope we can work hard with our current seats allocations and help each other to win all the seats and ensure there is a balance of power within the Pakatan in the next election," he said.

"This would be a good sign for the people to trust that Pakatan is the alternative to BN," he added.

In an immediate response, Komtar assemblyperson Ng Wei Aik (left) urged PKR not to "over react" over Zulkifli's suggestions for the party to sacrifice some of its seat for Malay candidates from DAP.

"We are not Umno and we will not definitely not become Umno," added the political secretary to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Ng also assured Johari that Zulkifli's statement does not reflect the official party stand and that since the latter is a state DAP committee member, he should raise his concerns internally.

"We also prohibit any leader and member from issuing any statement which may affect the good relationship within Pakatan Rakyat," added the state DAP secretary.