Kit Siang raises fear of Selangor defeat
November 28, 2010
Lim told the state delegates to take heed of PAS’s reversal in Terengganu during Election 2004. — Picture by Jack Ooi
PETALING JAYA, Nov 28 — Lim Kit Siang warned the Selangor DAP today that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) might lose Selangor in the next general election if they are not united, reminding the state party convention to learn from PAS’s 2004 loss in Terengganu.
The DAP parliamentary leader also called on the delegates to back the party representatives in the Selangor government as a sign of unity.
“Can Umno and Barisan Nasional win back Selangor in next general election? Is [the] Pakatan Rakyat government in Selangor impregnable and invincible?” said Lim when opening the Selangor DAP ordinary convention here.
“I know there are people who believe that Pakatan Rakyat cannot lose control and power in Selangor in the next general election,” the Ipoh Timur MP continued.
Lim’s warning came just as the state DAP prepares to face its most divisive election involving a faction aligned to state chairman Ean Yong Hian Wah and another team led by State Assembly Speaker Teng Chang Khim.
Today, Lim reminded the convention delegates that PAS similarly did not expect to lose Terengganu in Election 2004, after an unprecedented victory in 1999.
“In the 1999 general election, PAS had never expected to win power in Terengganu state but it swept the state with a landslide 28-4 victory in the state assembly seats,” said Lim.
“In the 2004 general election, PAS never expected to lose power in Terengganu but it lost in a reverse 4-28 sweep by Umno and Barisan Nasional,” said the veteran leader.
Lim also said that ex-premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had hinted that Barisan Nasional (BN) would win back Selangor as PR “is in shambles.”
“Recently, after the Galas and Batu Sapi by-elections, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir said Barisan Nasional is capable of wresting one or two states from Pakatan Rakyat as the opposition is in disarray, although he is of the view that BN would likely fail to regain its two-thirds parliamentary majority despite being returned to power in Putrajaya.
“It is no secret that Mahathir meant Selangor when he mentioned ‘one or two states’ which Barisan Nasional could wrest from Pakatan Rakyat in the next general election,” he added.
He repeated the call by Yong to close ranks to ensure that PR retains its control over the state government.
Lim also urged the delegates to send a message of unity and ensure the victory of DAP members of the Selangor administration in the state party election.
“This message will be marred if key DAP leaders in the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor state government do not receive full mandate and support from the convention,” said Lim.
He, however, gave an assurance that defeated candidates would continue to be given role in the party.
“There is a place and role in DAP for every leader and member to contribute to the historic political changes awaiting the country. For DAP, just as for Pakatan Rakyat, united we stand, divided we fall,” he said.
The Perak DAP party elections two weeks ago saw the near wipe-out of Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran’s faction by the Ngeh-Nga team. State chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham offered the defeated national vice-chairman the post of state vice-chairman but he declined.
Both Selangor and Perak have the most branches and members in the DAP.
Pakatan Rakyat had better learn from Perak even if PR succeeds in retaining power in Selangor in next GE. Even Dr M said Perak grab unlawful although he later changed his stand and endorsed Perak takeover.
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