SHAH ALAM - There needs to be an effort to understand the context of why Malays fear DAP as the party is still being labeled as anti-Malay and anti-Islam, says a DAP assemblyman.
Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lim Yi Wei said such labeling is not true.
"With urbanisation, we can't put Malaysia in a box but we have DAP Melaka member, a young Malay man who is a Chinese lecturer so you can't box people in.
"I would like to get rid of this perception but I really think it takes sincerity and work,” she told Sinar Daily.
Lim said she hopes that people would stop associating DAP with anti-Malay and anti-Islam sentiments which is also why the party is putting up more Malay representatives in the 15th General Election (GE15).
Commenting further, she said there is no percentage as to how many Malay representatives will be contesting in the election or where they will be contesting.
"What many people don’t realise is that among the regular members in DAP, a lot of them are young Malays.
"I think we have learned from past lessons. When Malays join DAP, we held press conferences and all, I feel like that is a bit unfair as there is pressure on that Malay representatives,’ she said.
Lim added that the recruitment process within the party has matured and is more natural.
She also said a Malay representative would definitely make DAP stronger but it all comes down to what the candidates say and promise.
"I really want a situation where Malay assemblymen manage predominantly Chinese areas and Chinese manage Indian places and I think that's the healthier kind of initiative,” she added.
Asked pn strategy for the coming elections, she said there might be some changes as to how the party selects candidates or where they will be placed as people lost trust in politicians after the 2020 Sheraton move.
"Previously when DAP was much smaller back in the 90s, we didn't have a lot of people to fill in seats. Usually, the more senior leaders will fill in the seats, win and give them to junior candidates.
"DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang has been building bases for other candidates to be able to come in but I think we might have to react to that strategy because people want to check track record whether the representatives have served the area in any capacity,” she said.
Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lim Yi Wei said such labeling is not true.
"With urbanisation, we can't put Malaysia in a box but we have DAP Melaka member, a young Malay man who is a Chinese lecturer so you can't box people in.
"I would like to get rid of this perception but I really think it takes sincerity and work,” she told Sinar Daily.
Lim said she hopes that people would stop associating DAP with anti-Malay and anti-Islam sentiments which is also why the party is putting up more Malay representatives in the 15th General Election (GE15).
Commenting further, she said there is no percentage as to how many Malay representatives will be contesting in the election or where they will be contesting.
"What many people don’t realise is that among the regular members in DAP, a lot of them are young Malays.
"I think we have learned from past lessons. When Malays join DAP, we held press conferences and all, I feel like that is a bit unfair as there is pressure on that Malay representatives,’ she said.
Lim added that the recruitment process within the party has matured and is more natural.
She also said a Malay representative would definitely make DAP stronger but it all comes down to what the candidates say and promise.
"I really want a situation where Malay assemblymen manage predominantly Chinese areas and Chinese manage Indian places and I think that's the healthier kind of initiative,” she added.
Asked pn strategy for the coming elections, she said there might be some changes as to how the party selects candidates or where they will be placed as people lost trust in politicians after the 2020 Sheraton move.
"Previously when DAP was much smaller back in the 90s, we didn't have a lot of people to fill in seats. Usually, the more senior leaders will fill in the seats, win and give them to junior candidates.
"DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang has been building bases for other candidates to be able to come in but I think we might have to react to that strategy because people want to check track record whether the representatives have served the area in any capacity,” she said.