PAS: DAP no threat to Malay community

DAP is not a threat to the Malays' political position because they simply cannot win the majority of parliamentary seats, according to PAS.

"How can DAP be a threat to Malay representation when they only contest 48 out of 222 seats?" Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad threw the question to a crowd of 100.

It would only be a valid concern if DAP ever contested and managed to capture a majority of the seats, said the PAS parliamentarian at a forum in Shah Alam yesterday evening.

Khalid (right) pointed out that the majority is in the hands of the community, giving an off hand estimate of 137 seats.

And as these constituencies are vied for by only Malay candidates from Umno and PAS or PKR, the community's representation is maintained no matter which party wins, he said.

The forum, titled "Wacana Islam Melayu DAP" (A DAP Malay-Muslim Discourse) was held at the SUK building, Shah Alam.

The other panellists were Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's political secretary Zairil Khir Johari, Dr Maszlee Malik of the International Islamic University of Malaysia (UIAM) and Wan Saiful Wan Jan of libertarian think-tank Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS).

Shadow cabinet, a policy distraction

Khalid also sought to explain why the opposition pact had declined to draw up a shadow cabinet, in response to a question from the floor.

Pakatan Rakyat feels that the policies they would implement if they took power were more important than the people appointed to head the ministries, he said.

"If we list all the names of our nominee ministers, others will raise issues.

"The discussion would centre on the individual, rather than policies," he added.

Zairil agreed, jokingly that other parties would jump on any appointment made for the sake of scoring political points.

"If tomorrow we announce that Tony Pua would be Education Minister, people would come out and say this ‘Cina ah beng' is trying to take control of our children," he quipped, sparking laughter among the crowd.

Dr Maszlee, however, dissented, saying he would adamantly campaign for the Pakatan to outline a shadow cabinet.

"And I will also campaign to for Barisan Nasional to form a shadow cabinet - when they form the federal opposition," he cracked to cheers from the audience.