KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 — DAP is seeking to wipe out Barisan Nasional rivals MCA and Gerakan to position itself as the sole keeper of the Chinese vote, which it can then leverage for a place in the federal administration, Datuk Ti Lian Ker claimed today.

The MCA publicity spokesman insisted his party and Gerakan have both aided in the country’s growth and development, while DAP that has always been on the Opposition side yet was now allegedly trying to destroy both.

"DAP’s sole interest is to take ownership of the Chinese political representation. They desperately want to be part of the federal government.

"Therefore there are no holds barred for them when it comes to selling out their principles, making U-turns and sucking up to any Malay political personalities who can assist them in their political ambitions,” Ti said in a statement today.

The Chinese community would be completely beholden to DAP for political representation in the event it can kill off MCA and Gerakan, Ti said before adding this would shift the balance of power from the voter group to the political party.

He noted that DAP has previously collaborated with many parties that it considered enemies, most notably embracing former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad whom it had blamed for much of the country’s woes until they joined forces.

Ti suggested that this desire to completely wipe out DAP’s foes was an extension of party stalwart Lim Kit Siang’s alleged inability to withstand competition, accusing the latter of now hoping to deploy his control of the Chinese community’s support against his rivals.

DAP has set its sights on the remaining refuges for MCA and Gerakan, shifting some of its biggest names to constituencies where it believes it can defeat the two parties’ leaders.

In Johor, DAP will send the party’s lead political strategist Liew Chin Tong to Ayer Hitam to take down MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong.

Up in Perak, the party is fielding local heavy-weight Nga Kor Ming to chase Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong out of Teluk Intan.

Over in Pahang, DAP is hoping that environmental activist Wong Tack can build on his previous efforts that brought him within 379 votes of upsetting MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

In Election 2013, DAP won 29 out of the country’s 30 Chinese-majority seats. The other went to ally PKR.