DAP says it’s torn between Muslim perception and traditional supporters

This comes after Kit Siang’s olive branch to the PAS president last weekend.

(FMT) – DAP today said it was torn between dealing with the Muslim electorate’s perception of the party and its traditional supporters, following a weekend proposal to restart cooperation with PAS.

DAP vice-chairman Teresa Kok said the party was aware of resentment among its supporters following Lim Kit Siang’s statement that it was ready to work with PAS to bring down Barisan Nasional (BN).

On Sunday, Lim said he was prepared to work with PAS if its president Abdul Hadi Awang was committed to saving Malaysia “from becoming a global kleptocracy”.

“Is Hadi prepared to make such a commitment?” the Gelang Patah MP had asked.

PAS and DAP severed ties after falling out again over PAS’ aim to implement Islamic laws in Kelantan. The break-up ended the Pakatan Rakyat coalition which also included PKR.

Kok said it was important to reach out to the Malay community who she said had been misled by PAS leaders.

“PAS leaders have been whacking DAP leaders one after another, with different leaders throwing all sorts of allegations. They even blamed us for stopping opposition parties from working together,” Kok told reporters today at an event to launch a Chinese New Year video greeting.

Kok’s greeting this year lampoons current and national politics, three years after another Chinese New Year video greeting she posted led to a sedition charge which was later withdrawn.

In that video, she was accused of fanning racial hatred for mocking government leaders.

Her six-minute clip this year, titled “Tangkap Ayam”, also features fellow party leaders Ng Sze Han and Ng Tien Chee, Amanah’s Khalid Samad and PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli.

“Whether it’s controversial or not, it depends on how the audience sees it. We are not referring to anyone in particular, just catching chickens,” she quipped.

Meanwhile, on working with PAS again, Kok said it was entirely up to the Islamist party “to respond to us”.

But she said the party remained firm on its stand against PAS’ goal to set up an Islamic state.

“We are very clear on that.

“In fact, BN component parties here and in Sabah and Sarawak also support our views. They all came together for the sake of the Federal Constitution.”