KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 ― The Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat will determine if Pakatan Harapan can win in the 14th general election, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng declared today.
Lim said PH can only hope to win federal power by winning in constituencies like Ayer Hitam that is currently held by MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong.
“If we win Ayer Hitam, we can win Putrajaya… whether or not we can win Putrajaya will be determined by our ability to win in such seats,” Lim told reporters here.
DAP announced two weeks ago that one of its more prominent leaders, Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong, will challenge Wee for the seat.
Today, the party launched a donation drive for Liew's campaign.
Pundits said the move reflected the predominantly Chinese Opposition's party's confidence, built on the back of massive gains in the previous general elections.
Wee defeated PAS' Hu Pang Chaw in 2013 by over 7,000 votes, but it was just half of the majority he gained from the previous polls.
Malay voters make 56 per cent of Ayer Hitam's voters according to the 2013 roll, followed by the Chinese at 38 per cent, Indians at four per cent and others at two per cent.
Liew had previously told a news portal that if DAP win Ayer Hitam, PH can muster 10 more federal seats in Johor.
PH has described Johor as the frontline state that will determine GE14's outcome.
Some of its leaders believe it can penetrate the Umno stronghold in this election on the back of a Malay vote swing.
Lim reiterated the point today, appealing to the Malay voters of Ayer Hitam to support the party's candidate.
“Liew had said before that there will be a 'Malay wave'... so help Liew Chin Tong win by joining this Malay Wave to save Malaysia,” the Penang CM said.
“And to win is not just about kicking BN out, but is about saving Malaysia's soul.”
