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

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


On Friday 26-8-2011, according to MALAYSIAKINI Saudara Zulkifli said that the DAP had “no choice” but to request at least one parliament and five state seats from PKR in Penang in the coming polls. Saudasra Zulkifli whom I have known for over decade, also a  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.

My response:

1.       Saudara Zulkifli clearly has an issue with DAP not having enough DAP seats for Malay candidates, that is an issue to be discussed within the DAP state committee, which I believe Saudara Zulkifli is also one of the committee members.

2.      In March 2008, DAP contested 19 state seats in Penang, while PKR fought in 16 and PAS, 5.  In parliamentary seats, DAP stood in 7 while PKR contested 4 and PAS, 2. In total, the three parties won 29 out of 40 state seats and 11 out of 13 federal seats.

3.      I agree with the analysis of our Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s Penang Information Chief Saudara Johari Kassim whom reminded Saudara Zulkifli that DAP had strived very hard but failed to win as many seats before Pakatan Rakyat was formed. I can also remember that in the year 1995 and 1999, DAP  had only won one (1) seat in both of the Penang Peoples’ Representative Assembly elections. 

4.       “United we shall stand and divided we fall”, and no party leaders in their sane mind should allow their member to rock the Pakatan Rakyat’s boat especially at this crucial time when all energy should be focus on saving the nation from being ruined by UMNO.

5.      In fact I welcome what Komtar assemblyperson Saudara Ng Wei Aik, also the political secretary to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had stated in response to Saudara Zulkifli’s statement. Saudara Ng Wei Aik stated that Zulkifli's statement does not reflect DAP’s official party stand and that since the latter is a state DAP committee member, he should raise his concerns internally with the DAP.  

Cheah Kah Peng,

Parti Keadilan Rakyat,

Penang Strategic Chief

28-8-2011