Contest just federal seats, DAP leaders told

Former DAP vice chairman Tunku Aziz says DAP should follow the one man–one seat electoral formula if they want to capture Putrajaya.

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP senior leaders should only contest federal seats and leave the state seats to party’s junior leaders and newcomers in the next general election.

Only then, said former DAP national vice chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, it would underline DAP and Pakatan Rakyat’s seriousness and determination to capture Putrajaya.

He even called senior leaders like secretary general Lim Guan Eng to take on Barisan Nasional top men face to face at parliamentary level.

“Lim should be gutsy enough to lead the way by going for broke and challenge BN leaders directly,” he told FMT here today.

By contesting only the federal seats, Tunku Aziz said Lim and company would not only demonstrate their own belief but also strengthen public confidence that they can capture Putrajaya.

Tunku Aziz said if the top leaders insisted on contesting state seats as well, it showed they lacked faith and were only out to protect their own selfish interests to strengthen their ositions within their party.

“Senior leaders should not use state seats as their safety nets, especially when they so sure of people’s support.

He said state level contests should be left to low key local leaders and rookies while top leaders lead the way by contesting the parliament seats.

“That’s the art and heart of parliamentary democracy,” Tunku Aziz said when commenting on the ‘one man – one seat’ electoral formula mooted by DAP chairman Karpal Singh.

Tunku Aziz quit DAP in May after a public fall out with certain party leaders, notably Lim Guan Eng following his comments against Berish 3.0 rally.

He joined the party in August 2008 and was appointed as party vice chairman in July 2009 and as a senator representing Penang in Dewan Negara the following month. He was the first ever DAP senator.

Reps with two hats

Tunku Aziz said the ‘one man–one seat proposal’ was vital, timely and a right step forward to expand the field for more elected representatives from DAP.

“Instead having only eight reps wearing two hats, the DAP will have 16,” he said.

Penang has most number of elected representatives wearing two hats.

Chief Minister Lim is Bagan MP and Air Putih assemblyman, Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy is Batu Kawan MP and Prai assemblyman and the state senior executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow is Tanjung MP and Padang Kota assemblyman.

Other DAP double-hat wearers are Beruas MP and Sitiawan assemblyman Ngeh Koo Ham and Taiping MP and Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Ming in Perak; Seputeh MP and Kinrara assemblyperson Teresa Kok Suh Sim in Selangor; Rasah MP and Lobak assemblyman Anthony Loke Siew Fook in Negeri Sembilan; and DAP Sibu MP and Bukit Assek assemblyman Wong Ho Leng in Sarawak.

Tunku Aziz claimed that party central executive committee (CEC) instantly dismissed the one man – one seat electoral formula when Karpal first mooted the idea.

“Some leaders were not keen to make way for others … only interested to consolidate their power,” he said.

Karpal however, somehow managed to push idea and now heads a three-man committee to outline the terms, conditions and exemption for the one-man one seat rule.

Karpal has hinted exemption would be given to Penang Chief Minister and candidates in Sabah and Sarawak.