DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh has urged party members to speak up against all wrongdoings and injustices, including those committed by state governments administered by Pakatan Rakyat.  

 

“For example, the demolition of a Hindu altar in Selangor by the Sepang Municipal Council was a complete abuse of power,” said Karpal during the party’s state-level convention in Penang today.

 

“No doubt this happened in the state of Selangor under the Pakatan government. But when there are wrongs, we must point it out... The temple demolition by the Sepang municipal council must stop.”

 

Another example cited by Karpal was the Kota Baru unisex hair salon row, which had put DAP on a spot because of a policy initiated by the PAS-led state government in Kelantan.  

 

“This action is totally unnecessary. Why do we give the BN cannon fodder?” he asked.

 

Minor intra-Pakatan skirmishes aside, Karpal said that the coalition now presents a "lethal combination" which could threaten BN.  

 

“We had many battles with BN, all the while as an opposition party. Now we have PAS and PKR which is a lethal combination for BN.

 

“We have come a long way and Pakatan has come a long way since 2008 but we still have a long way to go. We are quite near Putrajaya,” he added.

 

Importance of principles

 

However, regardless of the outcome of the next general election, he reminded party members to ensure that the party maintains its principles.  

 

Karpal said that this was important because once Pakatan took over Putrajaya, it would have a massive task of implementing institutional reform.

 

“We not only will but must take on Putrajaya because of the BN’s 55 years of corrupt rule and abuse of power. The time has come for cleansing and can only be realised if Pakatan is the federal government,” he said.

 

In the coming 13th general election, Karpal expressed confidence that Pakatan will retain Penang and possibly recapture Perak.

 

“I can assure you that DAP will win 19 seats in Penang, PKR can win more than nine seats and PAS will maintain what it has today, and hopefully, seize five more from Umno.

 

“If possible, PAS and PKR must get rid of Umno the way DAP has done away with Gerakan, MCA and MIC," he said.