PKR left DAP in the dark about its by-elections, Penang councillor claims
(MMO) – DAP politician Syerleena Abdul Rashid told PKR communications chief Fahmi Fadzil today that her party has always adopted a consensus approach when deciding electoral matter, contrary to some of its political partners.
As speculation mounts over the likelihood of snap elections in Penang — favoured by DAP but less so by PKR — Syerleena told Fahmi to check with his party higher-ups before asserting that PKR has always consulted its allies before reaching a decision on polls.
The Wanita DAP national publicity assistant secretary cited three past by-elections where she claimed DAP leaders were left in the dark: the Penanti state seat; the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat; and the much-talked about Kajang state seat.
“DAP national leaders were left in the dark and practically knew only about the by-elections when it was published in the online media.
“At no time did DAP ask PKR to replace their elected representative in Penanti, Permatang Pauh or Kajang. This was decided wholly by the PKR leadership on its own,” Syerleena who is also Penang councillor said in a statement.
She then called on Fahmi, who had yesterday said their federal opposition pact was informed prior to any of these by-elections, to verify his facts with the upper echelons of the PKR leaderships.
“Despite the lack of prior consultation, DAP did not make any fuss but gave full and undivided support to the PKR leadership’s decision in the interests of Pakatan unity and solidarity,” Syerleena said.
She also said the impact of the Kajang by-election was not restricted to just the state seat as claimed, but affected the entire Selangor state as it had been meant to cause a change in the mentri besar.
“This has huge implications, almost as big as holding a state general election,” she said.
In contrast, she said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had sought the consensus of all three parties in Pakatan Harapan before deciding on whether or not to hold elections in the northern state ahead of the 2018 expiry of his mandate.
Lim, who is facing two corruption charges, has been trying to persuade its Pakatan Harapan partners PKR and Amanah, to agree to snap state elections this year, saying that it is to “protect the people of Penang” as he is certain that he will be jailed.
Lim was charged with abuse of power and corruption at the Penang High Court last month over the alleged approval of a rezoning application by Magnificent Emblem to convert agricultural land to residential and over his purchase of his RM2.8 million house from businesswoman Phang Li Koon at below market value of RM4.27 million.
