DAP wants Pakatan's PM named for GE14 
MalaysiaKini.com
Dec 14, 2014

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng today said Pakatan Rakyat must name its designated prime minister when it goes into the 14th general election.

Speaking at the party's annual party conference, Lim said Pakatan cannot go to the polls without clear consensus on key issues.

"Pakatan Rakyat would not be able to enter the next election not having agreed on who would be the next prime minister nor a clear and definite position that there will be no hudud law," he told delegates at the meeting in Subang Jaya today.

DAP has often advocated opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to be the prime minister if Pakatan captures federal power.

However, some PAS leaders have shown preference for their president Abdul Hadi Awang for the post.

The Islamist party is also insistent on rolling out hudud in Kelantan by next year.

Lim also condemned the government's bid to imprison Anwar for alleged sodomy, calling it a "desperate act" against the opposition and vowed by stand by him.

"If Anwar is imprisoned, don't worry, we will wait for his release," declared Lim.

Asked later if DAP's choice for prime minister is Anwar, Lim concurred and said he was the "natural candidate".
 
Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua later told Malayiakini that DAP and PKR had always supported Anwar as prime minister even though this was never officially expressed.
 
"But after the Selangor menteri besar matter, we realised that if the three parties in Pakatan do not have a common stance in certain issues, it may lead to more problems," he said.
 
As such, he said there has to now be a consensus and even if Anwar goes to jail, the three parties must agree on a candidate.
 
PAS had disagreed with PKR and DAP's candidate for Selangor menteri besar which led to a prolonged crisis in the state.

Aspirations of moderates

Earlier,Lim said Pakatan must present a coherent front by uniting progressive forces and disregarding "extremist voters" which he said only comprise a small number.

"These are the aspirations of the moderates within Middle Malaysia.

"A winning Pakatan coalition must have clear policies that win among all ethnic groups, especially the majority Malays, and across Sabah and Sarawak as well," he said.

Present at the convention's opening were PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her deputy Azmin Ali, who is Selangor Menteri Besar.

Lim, who is Penang chief Minister, mentioned the names of DAP leaders in the Selangor exco and alluded that the party desired another position in the state government.

"The only name that is missing is (Sekinchan state assemblyperson) Ng Suee Lim," he said as he looked to Azmin.

DAP, which believes it should be rewarded for its loyalty to PKR in the Selangor menteri besar crisis, had initially pushed for Ng to become Selangor deputy speaker but failed.

In his speech, Lim stressed the need to win over Malay support.

"We must convince Malays that DAP, as one of its governing parties in Pakatan, would never hurt the interests of ordinary Malays but instead, deliver a better life for all Malaysians, Malays included.

"There will be more ferocious attacks by Umno on DAP as more and more young Malays see DAP as a potential platform to champion their shared dreams for a better Malaysia," he said.

DAP not anti-Muslim

He lamented about the 'ingrained perception" that DAP was anti-Malay and anti-Muslim which he said were lies perpetuated by Umno.

"When we talk of Islamic religious edicts or fatwa applying only to Muslims and not applying to non-Muslims, we are accused of being anti-Islam by interfering in the religious affairs of Muslims," he said.

Likewise, he said MCA and Gerakan accused the DAP-led Penang government of being anti-non-Muslim for doubling the budget of Islamic religious affairs in the state.

"DAP supports the rulers, the position of Islam and Malays, as well as protecting the legitimate rights of non-Malays and non-Muslims, as stated in the federal constitution.

"Let me state clearly that DAP is not anti-Malay nor anti-Islam, nor anti non-Muslims. We are only anti-corruption. And anti-BN as BN is the mother of all corruption," he said.

Lim also demanded the government charge former deputy minister Mashitah Ibrahim for "scapegoating" the Chinese community by accusing them of burning the Quran.

He pointed out that Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir had already clarified that the Quran was torn by a mentally unstable Malay Muslim and there was never any burning.

'We want Mashitah to be charged in court," he declared to loud cheers from delegates.

A total of 938 delegates were present at the conference today which made up 34.42 percent of total delegates, above the 25 percent minimum quorum. 

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