KETEREH, April 26 — Following revelation that DAP is unlikely to field any candidate in Kelantan, a leader from the Pakatan Harapan (PH) pact explained that such a move is still not feasible due to negative perception against the party in the Malay-majority state.
Kelantan PKR chief Ab Aziz Ab Kadir claimed many Malay-Muslim voters in the state now subscribe to the view that DAP plans to usurp the powers and position of the majority, as first propagated by Umno and more recently, PAS.
“We accept the fact that Kelantan is different from the west coast,” Ab Aziz, who is also Kelantan PH vice-chairman, told Malay Mail in a recent interview.
“We ask our DAP friends to accept this fact and reality in Kelantan. We have to deliberate, but we will acknowledge them.”
Last month, Malay Mail reported that DAP has downplayed its chances of contesting the 14th general election in Kelantan, despite expressing interest in two state seats last year.
Kelantan DAP chief Chua Chin Hui told ethnic Chinese voters during a PH event that even if his party were to take part, its candidates would contest under the banner of its PH partners.
In September last year, news portal Malaysiakini quoted Chua as saying that DAP has requested to contest the Kota Lama and Galas seats in Kelantan.
Kota Lama is the state seat with the biggest proportion of ethnic Chinese voters, and had traditionally been fought between MCA and PAS’ Datuk Anuar Tan Abdullah, a Chinese Muslim convert.
Last week, PH announced that it would nominate former Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Ab Rashid Ab Rahman for the seat instead.
This comes as Kelantan PH appointed over 100 non-Malay members to its interracial relations committee to help the Opposition pact’s campaign for ethnic minority support in the state.
Ab Aziz conceded that the sentiment is still prevalent, even after PAS’ previous alliance with DAP under Pakatan Rakyat which led the Islamist party to its biggest win in 2008 and another victory in 2013.
“After Tok Guru passed away, their tune changed, becoming the same as Umno,” the former Ketereh MP said, referring to the death of the late PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat in February 2015.
Ab Aziz said PAS’s splinter Parti Amanah Negara received the brunt of the allegations that it is being controlled by DAP, especially after their collaboration in aid of flood victims during the state’s biggest disaster in decades in 2015.
On the same night as the interview with Ab Aziz, Malay Mail also attended a casual rally by PAS leaders in the Kota Lama state seat.
During the gathering, Kelantan PAS Youth deputy chief Nor Azariza Mohd Alawi claimed DAP planned to betray its PH partners by joining a unity government with Barisan Nasional (BN) after GE14.
“In the next polls, DAP’s seats are all safe. They contest 40, 40 they will win. I see DAP will go to BN, do you believe me?” he addressed the turnout numbering several dozens who gave a lukewarm response.
In responding to claims that PAS is collaborating with Umno, the cleric popularly known as Ustaz Jaa said it is the PH component parties that will rejoice once a BN-DAP unity government happens.
“It is not impossible that DAP will embrace Umno-BN. But when? When Najib tells them, he will give them the deputy prime minister post, three to four ministerial portfolios, done,” he said, referring to Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
DAP currently holds 36 seats out of 222 in the Dewan Rakyat, compared to PAS’ 13. It holds the most seats among all Opposition parties.
In the upcoming polls, DAP will contest 35 seats to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s 52, PKR’s 51, and Amanah’s 27.
