DAP is allegedly trying to field Malay candidates in Selangor in order to stand a chance at taking over the menteri besar position, according to a Sinar Harian report today. 

Quoting unnamed sources, the front page report suggests that DAP is trying to convince PAS and PKR to make way in seats which they have lost in the 2008 general election. 

The report said these state legislative assembly seats includes Paya Jeras and Seri Serdang, seats lost by PAS, and the Port Klang seat which PKR's Badrul Hisham Abdullah, but quit the party later. 

In all, DAP is eyeing at least eight seats that were contested by PKR and PAS but lost in Selangor, says the report.

"They (DAP) are aware of the law requiring the Menteri Besar to be Malay and Muslim. This was the problem in Perak, eventhough DAP won many seats, it could not become the head of government.

"Now they've learnt from Perak, they want to field more Malay candidates to obtain the Menteri Besar position instead of PKR or PAS," the source told the daily. 
 
The report does not suggest any attempts were made to obtain an official response from DAP on the allegations.
 
PAS, DAP: Status quo on seats

However, the report quoted Selangor PAS secretary Khairuddin Othman as saying that DAP was welcomed to field Malay candidates but the seat allocation must remain at the 2008 general election status quo.

"If DAP wants to field Malay candidates, the party can do so according to the fixed seat allocation. 

"What is important that the seats remain as it was in 2008, they cannot take seats contested by PAS or PKR for the sake of fielding Malay candidates," he was quoted as saying.
 
Similarly, DAP publicity chief Tony Pua told Malaysiakini that for now, the seat allocation will remain at status quo unless the national leadership decides otherwise.
 
Pua also took Sinar Harian to task for failing to verify the facts with DAP. 
 
"This scurrilous allegation against DAP, claiming that we are after the menteri besar-ship, is another tactic by the Umno controlled media to scare the Malay voters," said Pua.