Only those who cannot address economic issues or the 1MDB scandal, would resort to playing on racist sentiments to garner support, said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Speaking at the Federal Territories DAP annual convention in Kuala Lumpur today, he urged party members to ignore such politicking, and instead focus on economic issues.

He pointed out that Kelantan - a PAS-held state since 1990 - is the state with the lowest GDP per capita in Malaysia last year, according to figures from the department of statistics.

“When they can’t answer how they have failed to manage the economy, how they dare not fight the 1MDB scandal, they just play on racist sentiments.

“That is what we oppose. I urge members not to entertain such playing of sentiments, whether it comes from Umno or PAS. We will focus on the people’s problems, which are economic problems,” he said.

Kelantan only produced RM12,075 in goods and services per person last year, he pointed out, and is out-produced even by much smaller states like Perlis and Kedah.

Perlis produced RM21,394 per capita and is the third least productive state, followed by Kedah’s RM18,249 per capita and is ranked second least productive.

The most productive is Kuala Lumpur with RM94,722 per capita, followed by Penang (RM44,847 per capita), Sarawak (RM44,012 per capita), and Selangor (RM42,611) per capita.

Lim, who is also the Penang chief minister, also pointed out that Penang’s ranking has also climbed from the 4th place ranking two years prior, to the current 2nd place ranking.

“If there is corruption, we won’t be number two,” said Lim, who is facing two corruption charges.

'Focus on economy'

In urging DAP members to respond to racial sentiments, he said he too would not be responding to PAS information chief Nasruddin Hassan’s statements despite being contacted by reporters on the matter.

“Let us focus on economic issues. I don’t want to answer on the term or threats from PAS. If I recall, they are like BN.

“I don’t want to answer. Let us ignore it and do our own work – work to stand up for the people and raise economic issues,” he said.

Previously, Nasruddin report said any opposition party that wants to work with PAS would first have to sever ties with DAP.

“The reality is that DAP is still opposed to PAS' Islamic struggle.

“So PAS' current policy is to reject DAP and all parties which work together with DAP,” the party organ Harakah Daily quoted him as saying.

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, who is an advocate for an electoral pact with PAS to ensure straight fights at the next general election, said the PKR would decide and the matter and he would abide by his party’s decision.

DAP and PAS had been at odds since last year, leading to the collapse of the Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition, and the formation of a new coalition without PAS.