DAP: Pakatan has 50-50 chance of winning

GEORGE TOWN - The DAP heads for its two-day national congress tomorrow on a confident note that its political pact with PAS and PKR can give the coalition a fair shot at federal power in the next general election.

Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) alliance has a "50-50" chance of forming the next federal government after more than 50 years of Barisan Nasional (BN) administration.

While admitting the fight will be a close one, Lim said he is confident the Opposition can give the incumbent a run for its money.

"It's always tough going up against the incumbent as they hold the reins of power," he told theSun recently.

In the 2008 election, BN won 132 seats, short of its long-accustomed two-thirds majority in the 222-seat lower house of Parliament.

DAP, PAS and PKR managed to win 28, 23 and 31 seats respectively as well as administrative control of Penang and Selangor and the Malay heartland of Kedah, Kelantan and Perak but the last returned to BN soon after.

The 13th general election is expected to be the fiercest contest the country will yet see as BN looks to claw back what it lost while PR aims to consolidate and expand its power.

Preparations to face the election are expected to be the focus of some 2,500 DAP delegates when they meet at the Penang International Sports Arena here.

Although there has been criticism of the party for allegedly practising "dynasty politics", political observers note that delegates are likely to be circumspect and not rock the boat too much.

On PR aiming to bring more states into its fold, Lim hopes the pact will hold on to what it now has.

"Chances are good, with Kelantan being the safest, followed by Selangor, Penang, and Kedah," he said.

He added that PR is also reasonably confident of winning back Perak based on feedback from grassroots showing an increase in electorate support.

Meanwhile, the Penang Malay Congress (KMPP) has urged DAP to give two veteran Malay leaders – Ahmad Ton and Zulkifli Mohd Noor – at least the vice-president's post, Bernama reports.

Its president Rahmad Isahak said both the leaders need to be given higher posts because they have made substantial contributions to DAP over the past 25 years.

He said the KMPP will compel DAP to elect at least five Malay candidates into the central executive committee.

-thesundaily