Umno, the only Barisan Nasional component party in the Penang legislative assembly with 11 seats, constantly complains that the 'DAP-led' government lacks Malay representation.

With only two Malay state executive council members - both from PKR - Umno insinuates that Penang is actually a DAP, with a Chinese dominant representation, and not a Pakatan Rakyat goverment.

NONE Penang PKR chief Mansor Othman, (left) however, has placed the onus on the Malay community to correct the situation for their own benefit at the impending 13th general election which must be held by 2013.

He said that if the Malays want more representation in the state administration, they have to cast their votes for PKR, and not Umno, in the polls that may be called as early as November.

In other words, PKR has to contest and capture Umno seats, and not hand over its seats to DAP to field its Malay candidates, as recently suggested by a state DAP leader.

"I want to say this loudly and clearly to the Penang Malays. If they do not (give us their support), they will be lost," he told Malaysiakini in a recent interview.

"If they do not back us in PKR, there would be no effective Malay representation," said the Penang Deputy Chief Minister I.

Verbal sparring between political partners

"The fact is we must contest in more seats, especially in Umno constituencies, and not the other way around," added the Penanti assemblyperson.

He was responding indirectly to the suggestion by state DAP central committee member Zulkifli Mohd Noor that PKR should return several seats to the party so that it can field at least six Malay candidates in the coming polls.

The proposal ruffled the feathers of state PKR leaders, while Penang Chief Minister and DAP national secretary general Lim Guan Eng imposed a gag order on the ongoing seat negotiations among Pakatan allies.

Zulkifli had rationalised that with the DAP's current popularity, its Malay candidates, if fielded, are said to have better chances of victory compared to PKR.

NONE But Mansor has refuted a long-standing perception that PKR is Pakatan's 'weakest link', although the party was plagued with internal bickering leading to the biggest number of crossovers.

He said PKR was merely 12 years old but has made the 'greatest impact' in the last election, where the party increased its parliamentary seats from one to 31.

"That is a big leap. People have to recognise that it was the biggest leap we have made compared to DAP and PAS which have been around for decades," he added.

Recalling last polls' triumph

Mansor explained that when PKR was formed and contested in the 1999 general election, it was given the 'most difficult seats', that is, mixed-constituencies.

polling day 080308 dap pondok panas He added that it was an understanding between the three allies that DAP would contest in non-Malay majority areas, while PAS would capture those with Malay majority.

"We took (constituencies) nobody (wanted). (Those were considered) lousy seats at that time... they were the strongholds of the BN (and) not easy to penetrate," he said.

"But PKR did a wonderful job in the 2008 polls... nowadays people want our seats. If we are the weakest link, PKR would not be able to make that kind of headway but we did," he added.

Mansor also said that PKR has been able to expand its membership to 600,000 members nationwide since the political tsunami of 2008.

But what about it being the party with the largest number of 'frogs' and those who departed citing internal leadership crises?

azlan Prominent MPs who have quit the party include Zahrain Hashim (Bayan Baru), Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal), Wee Choo Keong (Wangsa Maju) and Mohsin Samsuri (Bagan Serai).

N Gobalakrishnan (Padang Serai) and Zulkifli Noordin (Kulim-Bandar Baharu) were sacked, while Kita president Zaid Ibrahim quit over alleged elements of fraud and manipulation in the party's electoral process.

The departures resulted in PKR losing seven of its parliamentary seats, from 31 won in 2008, to 24.

But Mansor sees the phenomena of party hoppers and quitters as part of the political process which all parties undergo.

"Which party does not have frogs? Even the DAP has seen about 39 cross-overs in its history. This is politics. We try to address the problem by being more careful in our choice of candidates," said Mansor.

"We have taken the necessary steps (to deal with the issue). For those who have ambitions to cross over after winning seats, it would be very costly for them to do so," he said.

"This is a warning to them that (if they wish to cross over), they would have to think many, many times before doing so," he added.

Related stories :

Rashid registered dubious voters, says ex-Mafrel chief

Muhyiddin: PSC given six-month deadline

EC drops 50 dubious names and 2 foreigners

S'gor Pakatan wraps up seat talks for 13th GE

Tussle for Johor MB begins