No government can last in the state for fortnight if it does not have calibre Malay candidates, says Penang Malay Congress.
GEORGE TOWN: The fielding of Malays as DAP candidates in Penang is just a “safety deposit” for Pakatan Rakyat in the coming general election, said a Malay NGO.
Rahmad Isahak, the Penang Malay Congress chief, said PAS and PKR have failed to secure the Malay ground since 2008 although the opposition’s leader Anwar Ibrahim hails from the state.
“No government can last in Penang for two weeks if it does not have calibre Malay candidates to sit in the state government,” said Rahmad.
To avoid a scenerio where all of Pakatan’s non Malays win in the next polls while all of its Malay candidates lose in Penang, it is best to allow DAP to field Malay candidates to strategically leverage against such a possibility, he said.
Rahmad said that DAP had risen to become a prominent party here, and it is best that it reflects its ambition to be a truly multi-ethnic party under its ‘Malaysia Malaysian’ slogan.
“What better way to reflect its multi-ethnic leanings by parading a multi-racial candidates list in a state as diverse as Penang?” he asked.
Rahmad alleged that there was a fracture within PKR over the choice of candidates and seat allocations, while its leaders were suffering from an inferiority complex dealing with DAP.
For example, Rahmad said state PKR chairman Mansor Othman was allegedly quoted in a leaked taped recording, describing DAP secretary-general and chief minister Lim Guan Eng as arrogant.
“PAS is also dealing with its own “demons” as its former state youth wing head Mohammad Hafiz Noordin has been critical of the party of late,” said Rahmad.
“DAP Malay candidates may able to stave off a spirited challenge from BN, led by Umno and “hold the fort” in the event PAS and PKR candidates lose heavily in Penang,” he added.
Malays still struggling
Rahmad said his views were based on the present political realities confronting the Malays in Penang. He also rebuked another Malay NGO called PAJIM for suggesting that the congress is not the voice of the Malay community here.
PAJIM adviser Ahmad Mokhtar Muhammad said recently that the congress has less than 10 members, and it seen by the community to be more of a “puppet” of DAP in Penang.
Ahmad Mokhtar said the issues confronting the Malays in Penang have not changed since 2008, which is the community continues to lag behind others in many socio-economic facets.
“Being the second largest group in Penang, the Malays hold the dubious distinction of having the most number of residents who have fallen under the squatters catagory, even on the mainland and they are struggling to qualify for quality jobs, said Ahmad Mokhtar.
The DAP-led state government is seen as insensitive to the plight of the community, or unable to do much in addressing these deficits.
To this, Rahmad said the number of members are unimportant here, as what counts is the delivery of issues and to raise consistently the plight of Malays in Penang.
He agreed with Ahmad Mokhtar on the issues confronting the Malays such as affordable housing and good jobs, but stressed that whoever wants to “do anything” in Penang, must be willing to engage DAP.
“They have become the powerhouses here and in many urbanised electorates where there is a high presence of Chinese. The Malays need a “bridge” to DAP and likewise, they too need to cement better ties with the community,” said Rahmad.
The congress is the only NGO driven by the political realities in Penang, and not by self-interests, he claimed, adding that the long-term political standing of Malays in Penang will be shaped by the outcome of the next general election.
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