Pakatan Rakyat’s control of Selangor remains precarious as the young coalition grapples with the uncertainty of its fortunes going into the next general elections, said DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang.

teoh beng hock memorial night 160710 kit siang He said that while Pakatan won 17 out of the state's 22 parliamentary seats and 36 out of 56 state assembly seats in the 2008 general elections, there is no guarantee that they can retain power in the country’s most developed state.

Eight of the parliamentary seats, Lim stressed, and ten of the state assembly seats were won with less than a 10 percent majority.

“I know there are people who believe that Pakatan Rakyat cannot lose control and power in Selangor in the next general elections,” he said in his speech when officiating at the 16th Selangor DAP state ordinary convention today.

“Can Umno and BN win back Selangor in the next general elections? Is the Pakatan Rakyat government in Selangor impregnable and invincible?”

selangor dap convention 281010 crowd Lim used the change in government in Terengganu as a clear example of how easily political fortunes can be gained, and lost, stressing that Pakatan partner PAS won unexpectedly in 1999 with a landslide 28-4 victory in state assembly seats.

In the 2004 general elections, PAS never expected to lose power in Terengganu but it lost in a reverse 4-28 sweep by Umno and BN.

“We should not only take heed of the warning ‘Pride comes before a fall’ but also learn from the lessons of history,” he said.

selangor dap convention 281010 crowd from behind Lim noted that today’s Selangor DAP convention and polls could be a “major political milestone” for Pakatan in making sure Selangor does not become a repeat of Terengganu in 2004.

He added that it could also help “end the crisis of confidence” in Pakatan and get the “political momentum for democratisation” back on track in their bid to end Umno’s political hegemony.

Lim stressed that Selangor DAP must do all it can to push the agenda of unity and avoid any action or statement that could undermine public confidence in Pakatan, and also send give their full mandate and support for “key DAP leaders”.

“There is a place and role for every leader and member to contribute to the historic political changes awaiting the country. For DAP, just as for Pakatan Rakyat, united we stand, divided we fall,” he said.