Spread the word that DAP is for all, party officials told

 

All party leaders must combat the charge that DAP is anti-Malay, says Wong Shu Qi.

PETALING JAYA: More DAP leaders need to make an effort to spread the word that the party stands for all Malaysians and is not anti-Malay as frequently alleged, says Wong Shu Qi, the party’s assistant political education director.

She said the effort should not be borne only by secretary-general Loke Siew Fook. “We need a lot more leaders to come on board, doing the same thing, to show the Malaysian spirit in DAP,” Wong said in an interview with FMT.

She noted that some of DAP’s political opponents have alleged that DAP was an “anti-Malay” party. This was a general perception created in the 1970s to paint DAP as a party for the minorities.

“But if you evaluate the work done by our elected representatives (you will see) that it is not true,” she said. “Examine the work we’ve done at the local level, of what we actually do, and then you will know DAP is a party for all Malaysians,” said Wong.

In August, Loke had said in an interview with FMT that it was crucial for DAP to reassure the Malays that the party was not their enemy.

Wong, who was MP for Kluang in the previous parliament, said she was confident she would be re-elected for a second term.

In 2018, she had won by a majority of over 23,000 votes in a seat where 42% of the voters are Malay, against Gan Ping Sieu of Barisan Nasional and Muhammad Hasbullah Md Najib of PAS.

Wong said she knows that securing the Malay vote is crucial to retaining her seat.

In the 2018 general election, Bersatu had been part of Pakatan Harapan. This time Wong may have to face off against her former allies.

“Yes, I have to admit that Malay voters are crucial to my seat but I am confident of my performance in Kluang. The engagements I had with my constituents will help me retain the seat,” said Wong, who is organising secretary of Johor DAP.

Though BN and Perikatan Nasional would also seek to win the Malay community’s support, Wong said she was banking on her track record. - FMT