'Harapan seat division based on compromise, not party interests'

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said today that Pakatan Harapan's seat allocation formula for the 14th national polls was based on compromise between component parties.

"The seats allocation showed the we, the component parties, were willing to negotiate and compromise.

"We decided on the formula not for our own party interests, but based on the people's interests," Lim told reporters in Komtar, Penang.

It was announced at Last Sunday’s Harapan convention that Bersatu will contest 52 out of the 165 parliamentary seats in Peninsular Malaysia, followed by 51 seats for PKR, 35 for DAP 35 and 27 for Amanah.

Lim explained that the seat allocation formula was to accommodate the four component parties in Harapan, adding that the figures did not include seats in Sabah and Sarawak.

The Penang chief minister expressed surprise at Harapan's detractors, who said that DAP has lost influence as the party was only allocated 35 seats, instead of 38, the number it currently holds.

‘Justice tsunami’

Lim also took aim at MCA president Liow Tiong Lai’s call for Chinese Malaysian voters to generate a “justice tsunami” to wipe out the opposition's “hypocrisy and ugly political drama” in the coming polls.

Liow also urged voters to teach DAP's father and son pair of Lim Kit Siang and Guan Eng “a lesson or two.”

Lim pointed out, however, that Liow’s remarks were only published in select presses.

"Criticisms by MCA, especially by its president Liow Tiong Lai, were only published in the Chinese and English press, except the New Straits Times, we did not see them published in the Malay press," he said.

"In the Malay press, they try to frighten the Malays by saying that DAP is the dominant party," he added.

‘PAS propaganda’

Lim also told reporters that the same propaganda is being used by PAS to frighten its primarily Malay-Muslim voter base.

Kedah Pas commissioner Ahmad Fakhruddin Syeikh Fakhrurazi had said DAP will emerge as the powerhouse within Harapan, after taking into account the number of seats the party will contest in Sabah and Sarawak.

“Before we were friends, now we are foes. They use racial and religious sentiments because they are bankrupt of ideas.

"The people will be judge of their behaviour," Lim said.

He also insisted that Harapan would be undeterred in implementing their policies.

"Our policies remain the same, these are policies even MCA or BN could not do in the past.

"If you support BN, the goods and services tax (GST) will most likely remain or even increase.

"If you vote Harapan, we would not only abolish the GST, we will stabilise petrol prices and continue with BR1M payouts despite not imposing GST," Lim added.- Mkini