PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli watered down widespread concern in the opposition that the recent redelineation exercise by the Election Commission was to create more Malay majority seats.
According to many in the opposition, the move would benefit BN.
"If Umno thinks that it can create more Malay majority seats by lumping more Malays together and moving non-Malays from predominantly Chinese seats, I think Prime Minister Najib Razak is mistaken,” Rafizi said in Penang last night, at the DAP’s 50th year anniversary dinner.
“Who says Malays are supporting Najib and Umno? I have not met a single Malay in the past few months, who supports Najib or Umno,” said the Pandan MP who was cheered when he said this.
“Moving Chinese (voters) out and bringing in more Malays can actually be a poisoned chalice,” he added.
“I believe a lot of Malays do not believe in Najib and would like to see a leadership change,” he stressed.
Rafizi admitted that the opposition needed a proper strategy to woo Malay voters, as the community is not homogenous.
“Malays in Balik Pulau, Penang, think differently from Malays in Kelantan; what interests Malays in Terengganu has very little resemblance to what is important to Malays elsewhere,” he noted.
“Everyone believes we are going to go through a very bad general election, but I don't think that is the case, provided our strategy strike the right chord with the Malays,” he added.
Many parties, including DAP, PKR, MCA and Gerakan, have expressed their concerns and objected to the redelineation exercise by the EC.
Even Najib, who is Umno and BN president, said there were many opposing views to it, in the party and coalition.
DAP had called for snap polls in Selangor to protest against the redelineation exercise, but the proposal was rejected by Menteri Besar Azmin Ali, who urged the parties not to betray the rakyat.
During his speech, Rafizi specially honoured DAP senior leader cum Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang.
“It is not easy to found a party and still be here,” he quipped.
Rafizi jested that he was asked “Are you joining the DAP?” when his photo was featured among DAP leaders in the poster promoting the party’s 50th year anniversary.
“For the information of the press, I am not joining DAP, although we are in a time where everything is possible nowadays”, he quipped.-Mkini
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