DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang has speculated that PAS may find it difficult to maintain its hold in the Kelantan state government in the 14th general election.
He said DAP had concerns about this ever since floods hit the state in December last year.
"In Kelantan, a fall in support by PAS is likely for two main reasons – the passing away of PAS iconic leader and former spiritual leader, Tok Guru Nik Aziz ( photo ), as well as the inability of the current Kelantan state government to manage the post-flood reconstruction and rebuilding efforts," he said in a statement today.
Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, the former Kelantan menteri besar, had passed away on Feb 12 this year and was widely admired for his humility.
Lim predicted if PAS suffers a four percent decline in support in Kelantan, it would win only 20 out of 45 seats in the state assembly and hence lose control of the state.
If it suffers a three percent decline instead however, then it would hold 24 seats and maintain its hold on the state government.
In either case, PAS would lose three parliamentary seats in the state, out of 14 seats in total in the state.
The Islamist party currently holds 33 state assembly seats and nine parliamentary seats in Kelantan, while the 14th general election is due to be called by May 2018.
Lim said PAS may suffer a decline of support in Kelantan despite political sentiment that is unfavourable to BN at the national level due to controversy over 1MDB and GST issues, because of local factors that are in play at the state.
There is a precedent where opposition parties have lost local support even as it had made inroads at the national level during the last general election, he said, citing the Pakatan Rakyat’s loss of Kedah as an example.
“DAP informed the top PAS leadership before the 13th general election in May 2013 that Pakatan Rakyat was on the way to losing Kedah in 13GE and changes were needed in the state administration but our concerns and warning fell on deaf ears,” he said, while attributing the loss to then menteri besar Azizan Razak’s weak leadership.
Worry about your seats in Selangor
Separately, Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua said PAS should worry about its seats in Selangor as well.
"Selangor DAP has met and confirmed that we will not be providing any assistance or support to any PAS candidate in the state for the next general election.
"Instead, I will direct all DAP leaders and branches in the state to start active work in certain seats contested by PAS with the objective of contesting them in the next general election," he said in a statement today.
Pua was responding to PAS election director Mustafa Ali, who reportedly mooted fielding the party’s candidates in seats contested by DAP.
"The feeling now is that PAS will be alone. We will empower our PAS supporters' wing. So Malaysians will see more non-Muslim candidates being fielded by PAS in elections.
"Since we won't be constrained by any ties in any coalition, we will be free to contest in all seats, including DAP seats," The Malaysian Insider quoted him as saying in a report today.
Pua said it is the democratic right of any political party to field candidates to contest in any seat it wishes, but chided, "Perhaps PAS should be more concerned about holding on to its existing seats it had won in the last general election."
The Petaling Jaya Utara MP provided a list of eight PAS-held Selangor state assembly seats that would be among the seats where it would work towards garnering support. PAS holds 15 seats in total in the state.
However, the final list of seats that DAP would contest in the next general election is subject to negotiation with 'our new post-Pakatan Rakyat coalition parties', which he said would not include PAS.
"Selangor DAP would like to express our unequivocal support for PKR and any other parties contesting in Selangor which subscribes fully to the common policy framework.
"These parties should be able to work in a coalition built upon consensus, in the interest of protecting of all Malaysians in a democratic multi-racial environment," he said.
Since suffering a wipeout during the PAS party election in June, a splinter group comprising of the party’s professionals have formed a new movement dubbed Gerakan Harapan Baru, with the aim of paving the way towards forming a new political party.
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