Malays don't back DAP? GE14 wins show otherwise, says Pua

DAP’s wins in the recent general election dispel the notion that it does not have the support of the Malay community, according to the party’s national publicity secretary Tony Pua.

As an example, Pua pointed to Edry Faizal Eddy Yusof beating out contenders from BN and PAS in Malay-majority Dusun Tua with a comprehensive 10,422 majority.

“Selangor exco Edry succeeded in defeating candidates from BN and PAS with a majority of over 10,0000 votes.

“This is a significant achievement, because it shows that DAP can win in Malay-majority areas, and rubbishes the notion that DAP does not have Malay support,” he told the Selangor DAP convention in Petaling Jaya today.

Pua, who himself won his Damansara seat with a whopping 106,903-vote majority, also expressed his pride in the state DAP chapter winning all four parliamentary and 16 state seats it contested in the May 9 polls.

“I am very proud of the achievements of Selangor DAP, as well as that of the party at the national level. But whether we like it or not, Selangor DAP is the largest exporter of talent.”

Pua was referring to several DAP cabinet ministers and deputies being from Selangor, namely Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo; Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin; Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh, and Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Ong Kian Ming.

“Indirectly, this strengthens the party at the national level, as well as reaffirms the people’s confidence that DAP can lead, and do so much better than BN,” he added.

New talent

In his speech, Pua announced that he would not be defending his post as Selangor DAP chief so that he can focus his efforts on attracting young leaders into the party.

He also stressed that DAP has to keep working hard to attract new talent and maintain the people’s trust, so that it will not suffer the fate of BN and MCA.

“We cannot forget this mission, because the success of a political party is in our ability to create leaders who have the trust of Malaysians.

“We do not want to become MCA, a party that was strong and arrogant. Admittedly, it was a party with some charismatic leaders, but it was undone by internal politics – because of tussles for individual glory and wealth.

“MCA and (former BN component) Gerakan decayed until both could no longer pull in new talent. All we can see are old leaders in MCA. This is why the people rejected MCA and BN,” he said. - Mkini