"Surprised", "shocked" and "illogical."

These are among the words chosen by DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke to describe PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's warning that local elections might lead to a racial bloodbath.

Loke said he did not understand how Hadi could arrive at such a conclusion as DAP's push for local elections has nothing to do with race.

"That (race) is the last thing on our mind in wanting to bring back local elections," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

The main goal, he said, was to allow people to have a bigger say in local government and promote accountability to taxpayers.

"One of the major problems facing our local councils is the poor level of services,  such as rubbish collection, town planning, and public health.

"These are all quite general issues that are felt by all Malaysians, irrespective of race," he added.

Hadi had reasoned that local elections would benefit towns more – which are dominated by Chinese Malaysians – at the expense of surrounding villages, which are predominantly Malay, thus creating not only a gap but also tension between races.

However, Loke rubbished this argument, pointing out that the make-up of urban centres are no longer like in the 1960s.

"It is illogical to make such an argument.... All major towns today have a good racial mix of Malays, Chinese, and Indians," he said.

Furthermore, Loke said local elections is not only for urban centres, as even those in the rural area would need to elect their own council members.

'Regressive to play on race'

Loke, who is also Seremban MP, said it was "regressive" for Hadi to play on race, especially as Pakatan Rakyat is meant to bring about "new politics".

PAS, including its secretary-general Mustafa Ali, have in recent weeks hammered DAP for wanting local elections, citing that it is not part of Pakatan's common policy.

DAP had used the same argument in objecting to hudud in Kelantan.

Asked if PAS' attack on local elections is a retaliation against DAP's opposition to hudud, Loke said this appeared to be the case.

"Why do you bring it up now?" he questioned.

"It is a tactic to divert attention from hudud and justify why PAS should be given the freedom to pursue hudud," he said, adding that PAS assemblypersons in Penang did not oppose local elections in the past.

Loke stressed that local elections, unlike hudud, did not contravene the federal constitution and is part of democratisation, which is advocated by the opposition coalition.

He said it was unfortunate that PAS is launching attacks amid DAP's attempt to reach out to the Islamic party through post-flood reconstruction in Kelantan.

"This is not helping," he stated.

Quizzed if PAS’ criticism is contributed in part by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng's meeting with rebel PAS group Persatuan Ummah Sejahtera Malaysia (Pasma), Loke dismissed the significance of the meeting.

"Pasma met Lim in his capacity as chief minister. The chief minister meets many NGOs as part of his duties; that is something normal.

"I hope PAS will not read too much into this," he said.

PAS' ties with DAP and PKR have deteriorated after the Selangor crisis last year, when the Islamic party opposed a change of menteri besar in the state.