Be wary of DAP’s ploy, opposition parties told

GEORGE TOWN: Member parties in the Pakatan Harapan pact have been warned to be wary of DAP’s “cloak and dagger” ploy, which seeks control of any prime ministerial candidate from the fold.

People’s Alternative Party (PAP) vice-president Rahmad Ishak said DAP was expected to hold the biggest share of seats and subsequent advantage as the coalition’s de facto leader, should members of the pact win the general election.

Rahmad said Malay leaders in the pact should realise that DAP’s goal remained centred on its Setapak Declaration made in 1967.

According to the DAP website, the Setapak Declaration opposed the Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera status as the party wanted “ethnic equality” for nation building.

“DAP’s fight is based on the Setapak Declaration, which aims at eliminating the institution of the Bumiputera status.

“So, Malays can just forget about dreaming to be the prime minister since DAP will have the final say,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Rahmad also suggested that DAP would hide behind their prime ministerial candidate, who was expected to take the hit should there be a backlash.

“Any Malay and Muslim politician can be prime minister.

“But, disaster will strike when their allies begin to backbite to preserve their political majority power.

“If this happens, all efforts dreamt by the leaders of Parti Amanah Negara, PKR, and PPBM can be equated as ‘masuk angin keluar asap’ and only serve to hurt their own race.”

Rahmad said ahead of the 14th General Election, DAP was expected to put on a show that it respected Malays and Islam to win the hearts of Malay members in the pact.