DAP raps 'hostile' PKR members
Cracks have appeared in the opposition camp amidst speculation that the general elections is just weeks away.
Cracks have appeared in the opposition camp amidst speculation that the general elections is just weeks away.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guang Eng today accused some PKR members of acting in a hostile manner towards his party.
"PKR doesn’t appear to treat DAP as an equal partner but we have always treated PKR as an equal," he told reporters at the DAP headquarters in Petaling Jaya.
Lim cited two incidents that illustrate this situation.
The first, he said, was when PKR announced their candidates for seats which were previously contested by DAP or where DAP is the incumbent elected representative.
Second, he added, was the complete lack of respect shown by PKR towards DAP when one of the former’s vice-presidents announced that the party will be contesting for the Ipoh Timor parliamentary seat.
The Ipoh Timor seat is held by Lim’s father, DAP supremo and Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang.
"When you go along that line, we ask whether you treat us as an equal partner, the way or manner in which Umno treats other component parties in the BN (Barisan Nasional)," said Lim.
He noted that the relationship between the two parties cannot be built solely on the commitment shown by PKR’s top four leaders.
"PKR leaders, including Anwar Ibrahim, Wan Azizah (Wan Ismail), Khalid Ibrahim and Syed Hussein Ali are all very committed in cooperating with us.
"However, this commitment is not developed downwards to the members level," he said, stressing that PKR must show the same level of sincerity and respect exhibited by DAP.
However PKR had been reported as stating that it was only seeking to contest in one state seat under the Ipoh Timor constituency.
New faces for DAP
Earlier, the DAP secretary-general introduced three new faces who have joined the opposition party.
The trio are lawyer Teo Nie Ching as well as Chow Yu Hui and Pang Sheue Chyn. Chow and Pang were the assistant editors of DAP organ The Rocket’s Chinese version.
Teo, 27, has been appointed as the party’s public speaking division director and she will be assisted by Chow and Pang.
Lim said the trio share a common background as all of them were former members of Universiti Malaya’s (UM) Chinese debate team and won competitions both locally and abroad.
Teo, who is also a columnist with Chinese daily Nanyang Siang Pau, told reporters that she joined DAP because she wanted to make a change.
"All Malaysians should do something to change things around them rather than waiting for change to happen," she said.
Meanwhile, Pang, 26, said she decided to join DAP because she agreed with the party’s goals and objectives.
"Strengthening the opposition is vital for democracy. I hope that more young people will join us," she added.
On the other hand, Chow, 25, described this as a "dream come true" as he always wanted to join DAP since he was in school.
Asked if there is possibility that the trio will be fielded as candidates, Lim said the party will consider this.
"Thirty percent of our candidates for the general election will be new faces. When I say ‘new’, it’s not the age factor alone, but those competing for the first time," he added.
