LKS: The numbers show Malays cannot lose political power

DAP leader reiterates commitment to be a party for all Malaysians.

KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang has reiterated his party’s commitment to be a party for all, regardless of race, religion and region and given figures to allay fears that the DAP’s resurgence would result in a loss of Malay political power.

Speaking at a party dinner in Bukit Bintang here, Lim said there were 114 Malay-majority seats out of 162 parliamentary constituencies in the peninsula. The rest comprised 22 Chinese-majority seats and 29 mixed seats and no Indian-majority seat.

He also quoted figures to show the predominance of the total Malay population. Malays comprised more than 50 percent of the total population, with Chinese Malaysians forming less than 30 percent and the rest comprising small blocks of Indian, non-Malay bumiputera and other Malaysians.

Lim accused Umno president Najib Razak of “trying his utmost” to avoid accountability for recent financial scandals by creating the fear that his downfall as Prime Minister would result in Malays losing political power and placing Islam under grave threat.

“Nobody really believes this,” he said. “In fact, I do not believe Najib himself will believe it.”

Lim said Najib’s downfall would only mean loss of power for Najib and his cronies in Umno. Political power in Malaysia would continue to be in the hands of Malay people.

“The demographic reality is the surest guarantee that the Malays will not lose political power whatever happens to Najib or to Umno at the next general election,” he said.

He expected greater attacks on the DAP in the months leading up to the next general election “to falsely paint the DAP as anti-Malay and anti-Islam”.

He pledged that the DAP would not forsake its commitment to be a party for all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, and at all levels.