Selangor DAP held a special meeting last night to come up with a plan to counter recent attacks accusing it of being anti-Islamic and anti-Malay.

The meeting also discussed ways to counter the rumoured plan by the Barisan Nasional to topple the state government in September through defections.

NONE Contacted today, Selangor DAP chief Ean Yong Hian Wah (right) said about 50 people attended the meeting at the party national headquarters in Petaling Jaya, including state assemblypersons, parliamentarians, municipal councillors and local leaders.

Ean Yong said that strategies were devised and party activities were planned, but declined to elaborate.

Party information chief and Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua said party leaders had also advised those in attendance about the need to be prudent in issuing public statements.

"They were taught what to say and what not to say," said Pua.

According to a participant who requested anonymity, the emphasis for the meeting was on how the DAP and its Pakatan Rakyat coalition partners could counter the attacks which made them out to be bigots.

‘Poison-penned' booklet distributed

In recent weeks, DAP has been embroiled in the Selangor alcohol-ban controversy which has been used by Umno to pit PAS against allies DAP.

NONE DAP has also been severely attacked in a widely circulated Malay booklet titled Wajah Sebenar Menteri Besar Selangor Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim which portrays the party as puppet masters in the Selangor government, pulling all the strings.

Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia has also been heavily critical of DAP's Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi, Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu and Rasah MP Anthony Loke and accusing them of insulting Islam or being anti-Malay.

The source said that during the meeting, it was decided that the party would find ways to get closer with the Malay community and push for state policies which benefits all of Selangor's citizens.

"Aidilfitri celebrations will be held soon and this is a great opportunity to forge closer links with the Malay community. We must show that we are neither anti-Islam nor anti-Malay," said the source.

He adds that the plan was to have each constituency held by DAP to organise between three to five activities involving the Malay community.

The source said though it was generally agreed that defections from Selangor DAP was unlikely, party veteran Lim Kit Siang warned participants not to be complacent.

Given that numerous DAP state assemblypersons are the subject of intense scrutiny by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission , there is a fear that there will be attempts to force defections in exchange for graft charges to be dropped.