In Kelantan, more interest in DAP now?

State DAP coordinator Mohd Fauzi Mohd Azmin says interest in the party spiked after PH's shock win in GE14.

DAP is said to be making inroads in Kelantan, which has traditionally been seen as a PAS/Umno stronghold.

PETALING JAYA: More people in Kelantan are expressing interest in DAP despite the traditional image of the Malay-majority state as a PAS/Umno stronghold, says Kelantan DAP coordinator Mohd Fauzi Mohd Azmin.

Speaking to FMT, Fauzi said Kelantan’s interest in DAP spiked following Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) victory in the recent general election.

To date, he said, the party’s membership in Kelantan stood at 1,500.

“1,100 of our members belong to the Orang Asli community. Malays make up the second biggest group,” he said, adding that the rest of the members came from the Chinese, Indian and Thai communities.

“There are currently 20 DAP branches in Kelantan, mainly in Kota Bharu, Tanah Merah, Rantau Panjang and Gua Musang.”

Fauzi said this was in line with the stance of party veteran Lim Kit Siang.

“Lim targeted Kelantan as one of several states that PH should aim for in the 15th general election,” he said.

The other states are Pahang, Perlis and Terengganu.

In the May 9 polls, PAS won 37 of the 45 state seats in Kelantan while the rest were won by Barisan Nasional (BN).

PH meanwhile failed to win any state or parliamentary seats.

Fauzi acknowledged that DAP faced many obstacles in Kelantan, including claims by PAS and BN that it was a Chinese party.

However, he said DAP would focus on boosting its Malay membership.

“This will dispel the common belief that DAP is controlled by the Chinese.” -FMT