Showdown in JB – is Kit Siang taking on Shahrir?
BRILLIANT? Arrogant? Desperate? Whatever one may think of it, DAP’s quest to wipe its Chinese rivals off the face of Malaysia has started in earnest.
Its leaders have been systematically deployed to seats held by top guns of MCA and Gerakan to finish them off, especially in Johor.
The unveiling of the dragon-versus-dragon fights has only just begun but the biggest surprise of all could be their veteran leader Lim Kit Siang venturing into the Umno stronghold of Johor Baru to take on Tan Sri Shahrir Samad in the general election.
Lim has kept things close to his chest apart from saying that Gelang Patah, which he won with a huge majority in bring down their top leaders, 2013, remains his “first Lim is trying to bring down option”. one of the most prominent
He seems to be keeping names in Umno. his options open and China It is not just about chal
Gear up for election
Press recently carried an lenging Shahrir but what exclusive report predicting Shahrir represents – the a showdown in Johor Baru Umno leader is an iconic between Lim and Shahrir. Johor figure and the current face of Felda.
Lim has always been a risk-taker but this Lim will be killing two birds with one stone could be the riskiest in his political career if he succeeds. which has gone on even longer than that of He probably thinks that having Dr Mahathir Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. on his side can tip the Malay vote.
If it happens, he will be contesting a MalayDr Mahathir was in Ayer Hitam to lend his majority seat for the first time because Johor star power to Liew Chin Tong who is taking on Baru has 53% Malay, 42% Chinese and 5% MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Indians and others. Siong.
And unlike his other party leaders who have The Pakatan Harapan chairman is also been sent to MCA and Gerakan strongholds to expected to be in Teluk Intan when Nga Kor Ming is officially unveiled to take on Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong.
DAP has been riding on Dr Mahathir for all he’s worth. It is little wonder that DAP leaders refer to Dr Mahathir as “Tun Mah” – “mah” means horse in Chinese.
During a DAP fundraising dinner in Alor Setar on Friday night, the controversial Hew Kuan Yau aka Superman said DAP needs to “ride on Tun Mah to kill the chicken”.
Pronounced the right way, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s name sounds like “bringing luck” in Chinese but pronounced the wrong way, it sounds like “chicken”.
DAP leaders who are currently in safe seats dominated by Chinese voters are being deployed to more challenging seats.
Damansara Utama assemblyman Yeo Bee Yin is standing in Bakri, Johor, while Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching may contest in Labis against MCA vice-president Datuk Chua Tee Yong.
But not everyone in the party is thrilled about moving to more difficult seats.
For instance, Selangor exco members Ean Yong Hian Wah (Seri Kembangan) and Datuk Teng Chang Khim (Sungai Pinang) claimed to be in the dark about moving to Sungai Pelek and Kuala Kubu Baru respectively. Sungai Pelek and Kuala Kubu Baru are considered grey seats for DAP.
A party insider said Teresa Kok, who has been Seputeh MP since 1999, is also not keen about taking on MCA’s Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun in Raub.
DAP has been pushing the boundaries since its breakthrough election in 2008. Johor is the only state where MCA still has some grip over the community and DAP wants to change that.
In fact, Teo had used a strident Chinese term, “wei jiao” (destroy) to describe her party’s quest to wipe out MCA. It was a term that the Kuomintang used in their war with the Communists for supremacy over China.
The dragon-versus-dragon strategy is also aimed at pumping up the momentum, especially in Johor.
DAP leaders can sense that the Chinese mood in Johor is not like that of 2013.
The euphoria that the Chinese felt about DAP moving south has evaporated and even Liew’s launch in Ayer Hitam has failed to spark off the forest fire that they had hoped for.
It is not uncommon to hear local residents complain that DAP elected representatives have not performed and are rarely around because a number of those who were elected in 2013 live in the Klang Valley.
A common complaint during the earlier years was that when locals went to DAP YBs to resolve local problems, they were handed telephone numbers of government departments to call.
That really upset many of them because they used to be pampered by Barisan YBs.
DAP leaders are hoping that the locals will renew their fervour if they see the top leaders taking big risks.
The counter argument is that DAP leaders are taking Chinese voters for granted and using Chinese voters to advance their political agenda.
In 2008, DAP had campaigned on the line that the party needed Chinese support to have a bigger voice and role in politics. It was a fallacy because DAP won the most seats in Perak but the Mentri Besar post went to PAS.
Although DAP has the most seats in Pakatan, Pribumi, which only has two MPs and one assemblyman, is given the chairman and president posts in the coalition. DAP leaders, like those in MCA and Gerakan, are still playing second fiddle to Malay leaders.
DAP should not assume that the Chinese do not mind being pawns in this high-stakes political game.
For instance, some voters in Ayer Hitam are talking about whether they should ditch a minister who has taken care of their constituency so that DAP can win the one-upmanship game.
Lim will also have to come up with a more convincing argument than “saving Malaysia” if he wants a shot at Johor Baru.
Internally, some of their leaders are worried that Lim, whose image among Malays has plunged, may cause Malays in other seats to run into the arms of PAS or Umno.
The above party insider said DAP is still unable to find a suitable candidate to take on MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai in Bentong.
However, a Selangor party leader, who is not impressed by these political games, has suggested that Tony Pua should go there given that his seat PJ Utara is a DAP fixed deposit.
Chinese politics is in danger of becoming self-serving rather than about serving the people.