The Penang DAP continues to be pressured by a local Malay NGO.to name its Malay candidates for the 13th general election, so as to show its sincerity in promoting its multi-ethnic aspect.

Penang Malay Congress president Rahmad Isahak said DAP should field the Malay candidates who had failed to make it to the party's central executive committee (CEC) at its election last December.

NONE Rahmad ( left ) reiterated that the DAP should field Malay candidates in three parliamentary and one state seat in Penang and that with this allocation, the party should be able to oversee the interests of the 640,000-odd Malays in the state.

The Malay candidates who failed to secure a seat on the CEC at the party elections are Ahmad Ton, Ariffin Omar, Harun Ahmad, Roseli Abd Ghani, Solaiman Op Syed Ibrahim, Zulkifli Mohd Noor and Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji.

Ariffin was later appointed to the CEC as a party's vice-chairperson, while another candidate, Zairil eventually made it to the CEC, after a "technical glitch" was discovered in the vote tabulation.

"It is not far-fecthed to say that this is the right time for DAP to uphold the rights of its Malay leaders so that they have the opportunity to continue to render their services to the state government," Rahmad said in a statement yesterday.

Get rid of 'ethnic blinkers'

When contacted, Ariffin urged the NGO to rid itself of its "ethnic blinkers and look beyond race".

Ariffin, a former university lecturer, added: "What have all these Malay leaders in Umno done for the Malays?

"If they think that Malay interests and welfare can only be safeguarded by Malay leaders, the record of Umno's efforts in Penang is truly dismal.

"The same can be said of the fate of the Malays elsewhere, in the other Malay states. All they have to do is to see for themselves."

NONE The DAP has 19 seats in the Penang legislative assembly - all held by non-Malays in Chinese majority areas, while PKR has nine and PAS one. Umno holds 11 seats in constituencies considered the Malay heartland.

Ariffin ( left ) reminded the NGO that in 2004, Umno won the majority seats in Penang but it was not called upon to form the state government.

"If at that point in time Umno itself refused to take the lead and form the state government, then it proves that it does not have the moral courage to lead," he said.

Meanwhile, Zairil said the strategy for the coming general election was the most important consideration for the party.

He expressed confidence that the DAP leadership would take into account all views when deciding on the candidates list.

Ability, popularity and contributions

"Candidates will be vetted on the basis of their ability, popularity and contributions," said Zairil, who is political secretary to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Zairil Khir Johari (2) "It is important that the candidates chosen are those able to serve their constituencies well," he added.

Asked about the Bukit Bendera parliamentary seat, as speculation is rife that Zairil ( right ) would be fielded there and the incumbent, Liew Ching Tong, deployed to a Johor seat, he laughed.

"I don't think the candidates are confirmed yet. Everything is mere speculation," Zairil said, neither confirming nor denying the speculation.

Asked whether the DAP would pick its candidates purely on their ability and not by race, Zairil said: "I cannot speak on behalf of the leadership. But I am confident that all views and considerations will be weighed and given due attention."