Ngeh: DAP grassroots back Nizar as MB
Andrew OngPublished: Feb 18, 2009 8:44 AM | Updated: Feb 18, 2009 8:50 AM
Perak DAP supporters had initially tried to dissuade their leaders from forming the state government with PAS, disclosed state DAP chairperson Ngeh Khoo Ham.
Perak DAP supporters had initially tried to dissuade their leaders from forming the state government with PAS, disclosed state DAP chairperson Ngeh Khoo Ham.
However, this sentiment has been reversed and the party now fully backs Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, he said.
Speaking at a ceramah in Klang last night, Ngeh said that after the general election last March, there was tremendous pressure from the DAP grassroots who could not accept a PAS candidate as menteri besar.
“I received more than 400 text messages (then) condemning me for ‘betraying’ the trust of our supporters,” he said, adding that they were willing to forgo forming the state government.
Even DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang had apprehensions about the party being part of a state government with a PAS representative at the helm.
“Kit Siang told me that it is better to be opposition than in a government that would be destroyed in the next elections,” said Ngeh.
DAP has long held reservations about PAS’ intention to turn Malaysia in a theocratic state. In the 1999 polls, voters turned against DAP and reduced their seats in Parliament after the party formed an alliance with PAS.
Ngeh attributed the DAP change of heart to Nizar’s stewardship, saying the Perak Pakatan government has managed to break through racial barriers and counter Barisan Nasional’s divide-and-rule tactics.
“Under his leadership, everything has changed. He is accepted by all races. When DAP leaders enter Malay villages, we are now accepted.
“Now, BN knows that their divide-and-rule policies have come to end. There is no more suspicion among Malays, Chinese, Indians and Orang Asli in Perak.”
Nizar no-show
The ceramah held at the Dewan Hamzah was organised by Klang MP Charles Santiago and was billed as a forum on the ongoing political crisis in Perak.
Mohd Nizar (left) was to have been the key speaker but was unable to attend to the disappointment of the 2,500-strong crowd, a large section of which spilled out into the car park outside the hall.
Ngeh told the crowd that Mohd Nizar was unable to attend as the police were recording his statement at the time.
Other speakers included Sungkai assemblyperson A Sivanesan, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkifly Ahmad, Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu and lawyer Haris Ibrahim.
In the March 8 general election, DAP won 18 seats, followed by PKR (seven) and PAS (six). The three parties agreed to set aside their differences and form the Perak government, well before the pact was formalised as Pakatan Rakyat.
However, this sentiment has been reversed and the party now fully backs Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, he said.
Speaking at a ceramah in Klang last night, Ngeh said that after the general election last March, there was tremendous pressure from the DAP grassroots who could not accept a PAS candidate as menteri besar.“I received more than 400 text messages (then) condemning me for ‘betraying’ the trust of our supporters,” he said, adding that they were willing to forgo forming the state government.
Even DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang had apprehensions about the party being part of a state government with a PAS representative at the helm.
“Kit Siang told me that it is better to be opposition than in a government that would be destroyed in the next elections,” said Ngeh.
DAP has long held reservations about PAS’ intention to turn Malaysia in a theocratic state. In the 1999 polls, voters turned against DAP and reduced their seats in Parliament after the party formed an alliance with PAS.
Ngeh attributed the DAP change of heart to Nizar’s stewardship, saying the Perak Pakatan government has managed to break through racial barriers and counter Barisan Nasional’s divide-and-rule tactics.
“Under his leadership, everything has changed. He is accepted by all races. When DAP leaders enter Malay villages, we are now accepted.
“Now, BN knows that their divide-and-rule policies have come to end. There is no more suspicion among Malays, Chinese, Indians and Orang Asli in Perak.”
Nizar no-show
The ceramah held at the Dewan Hamzah was organised by Klang MP Charles Santiago and was billed as a forum on the ongoing political crisis in Perak.
Mohd Nizar (left) was to have been the key speaker but was unable to attend to the disappointment of the 2,500-strong crowd, a large section of which spilled out into the car park outside the hall.Ngeh told the crowd that Mohd Nizar was unable to attend as the police were recording his statement at the time.
Other speakers included Sungkai assemblyperson A Sivanesan, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkifly Ahmad, Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu and lawyer Haris Ibrahim.
In the March 8 general election, DAP won 18 seats, followed by PKR (seven) and PAS (six). The three parties agreed to set aside their differences and form the Perak government, well before the pact was formalised as Pakatan Rakyat.
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