BUKIT MERTAJAM – Once bitter political rivals, DAP and Umno working together in the federal government is part of a maturing system where campaigning is focused on policies rather than rhetoric on race and religion.
However, DAP national chairman Lim Guan Eng admitted that there are certain quarters who cannot “accept reality” and are trying to “overturn a legitimate government”.
“There’s a lot to get used to. Given that we (DAP and Umno) never cooperated (at the state level). But we will make sure that unity is not only on a national level.
“Friend or foe, peace and prosperity in Malaysia is most important,” he said during a Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house in Auto City here yesterday.
Meanwhile, he slammed Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) brand of politics, even accusing PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang of “lidah biawak” (doublespeak).
“In 2008, PAS president was insisting that the people vote for DAP. This is ‘lidah biawak’.
“PN claims that it has 80% support from all six states. Can they get (it) from Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Penang? All empty talk.
“In some PAS states, they cannot even provide basic infrastructure.”
PAS and DAP collaborated in 2008. Together with PKR, the alliance was known as Pakatan Rakyat.
Lim is also positive that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, which DAP is a part of, and BN will win big in Penang to showcase what a unity government is all about.
“Not only can we maintain the status quo (37 state seats)...we can add new seats so that (our) state government is a solid one.”
He added that the Penang assembly is expected to be dissolved by the end of June, with a state election likely held in August.
Kedah, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu are expected to follow suit.
Penang chief minister and state DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the party is getting used to working with Umno some six months into the federal unity government.
He later said in a press conference that there are a few Penang seats left to negotiate with BN through Umno.
State Umno chief Datuk Seri Musa Sheikh Fadzir said seat negotiations are being made in the spirit of “give and take” even though there are some overlapping issues.
He added that Penang Umno will not be provoked by PAS election director and Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, who is confident the opposition coalition will win the Malay-dominated seats.
“Let him say what he wants. We will not stoop to his level. We are not overconfident. We must focus on serving and meeting voters’ needs.” – The Vibes, May 22, 2023
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