‘DAP will win more seats in Malacca’

PKR is confident of taking over the state in the next polls but a local MIC leader rejects that possibility. However he admits BN may lose its two-thirds in the state.

MALACCA: Pakatan Rakyat is confident that it will ‘end’ Barisan Nasional’s life in Malacca in the next general election.

In the 2008, Pakatan coalition partner DAP won an unprecedented five state and one parliament seats in the traditionally strong BN state.

Bouyed by its success, DAP and its partners PKR and PAS have been working the ground since then and recent high numbers of people attending their ceramah here appear to indicate a change in allegiance.

According to state PKR vice-chairman G Rajendran, going by the current mood in Malacca, it was not impossible for Pakatan to capture the state in the 13th general election.

Speaking to FMT recently, he said the historical state was no longer a BN stronghold.

Rajendran said although there were pockets of voters who still declare their loyalty to BN, it does not mean the incumbent government led by Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam can secure a landslide victory in the upcoming election.

According to him, voters who are 40-year-old and below are now prepared to openly crossover to Pakatan.

“A few national and internal issues are irking the people and they are waiting for the election to topple BN.

“This augurs well for Pakatan and most probably BN will be out of business after the upcoming election,” he added.

Rajendran who from Alor Gajah said that ceramah sessions held by Pakatan were well received in the state and support for the coalition was growing day by day.

Malays affected by NFC scandal

He cited a recent ceramah attended by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim in the Gadek constituency which is a BN stronghold.

He said more than 2,000 supporters turned up to hear Anwar despite Umno pranksters causing disturbances.

“Do not forget, Gadek is one of the strongest BN stronghold in Malacca where speculation has spread that this time a MIC candidate will contest in the seat,” he said.

Rajendran said the huge turnout at Gadek was a warning to BN that it was no longer safe in Malacca.

“It’s not only in Gadek, but the the numbers of supporters attending Pakatan ceramah’s here (Malacca) is getting higher by the day,” he said.

Rajendran also alleged that Umno has, since last year, been playing dirty by holding ceramahs at the same time and in the same venue as Pakatan.

“This shows Umno is afraid and has forced itself to practise all kinds of tactics to keep a grip on Malacca,” said Rajendran.

Rajendran also extended his gratitude to Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil over the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) scandal.

NFC is located in Gemas, Malacca.

“Shahrizat did us a favour. NFC was the main scandal that shook Malacca people, especially the Malays, because most of them are cattle farmers struggling to get loans from the bank whereas Shahrizat’s family easily gets a RM250 million soft loan from the government.

“This was significant disclosure. As a PKR state vice chairman, we found that almost every part of Malacca is ‘impressed’ by NFC scandal,” said Rajendran adding that BN had already lost its two-thirds majority and may drop further if election is delayed.

Opposition will win more

But an MIC leader here has however rubbished Rajendran’s view, insisting that Malacca will remain a BN stronghold.

“It is highly impossible for BN to drown in Malacca,” he said, preferring not to be named.

According to the leader who is also from Alor Gajah, BN under Ali is still much favoured by voters and the ruling coalition will definitely win in the coming election.

He however did not reject the possibility that BN could lose its two thirds majority for the first time.

“Yes, there is a possibility that BN will lose it’s two thirds due to national politics,” he said.

He said in Malacca, there was a possibility that DAP would improve on its 2008 election performance.

“If the scenario during election continues to favour Pakatan, then the coalition would clinch at least 10 state seats and two parliament seats,” he said.

According to him, DAP will retain all it’s seats and may win the additional Duyong state seat while PKR and PAS both will win two seats respectively.

It is also expected that PKR will win Bukit Katil parliament constituency by fielding it’s Youth wing chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin who is also Malacca PKR chairman.