Press Conference

by Lim Guan Eng

(Parliament, Wednesday): The  DAP Central Executive Committee(CEC) meeting last night in DAP Petaling Jaya headquarters has decided not to contest in the Ijok by-election and fully support PKR contesting the seat to ensure a straight fight with BN.

DAP had consulted with Selangor state leaders and branch leaders in Ijok who had requested that DAP contest the seat by putting up an Indian candidate. However in the interests of opposition unity, Selangor state leaders and branch leaders in Ijok were agreeable to support the PKR.

The CEC appreciates the requests for an Indian candidate in view of the demographic structure of Ijok state seat with one of the highest number of Indian voters in the country. The CEC has noted the general unhappiness at narrow views apparently expressed by some parties that an Indian candidate was somehow not qualified to contest in Ijok. These sentiments were conveyed by me to both PKR President Datuk Seri Wan Azizah and PKR National Advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Datuk Seri Wan Azizah had informed me two days ago that the PKR had selected Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as the PKR candidate for Ijok. The CEC fully endorses PKR's candidate for the Ijok By-election.

The DAP believes that Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim's passion for justice and democracy should be supported by Ijok voters. Let us seek equal opportunity, a fair share of the country's wealth for all and prove that the government is our servant and not our master by voting for PKR.

The CEC addressed Datuk Seri Wan Azizah's request for DAP leaders' representation for the nomination day tomorrow. Even though PKR only sent leaders based in Melaka to participate in the nomination day in Machap, the DAP CEC had decided to send a high-level delegation of CEC and Selangor State leaders.

In accordance with the protocol outlined by PKR National Information Secretary Sdr Tian Chua that such a delegation be led by the No. 2 party leader, the DAP delegation to Ijok tomorrow will be represented by DAP National Deputy Chair and MP for Kepong Sdr Dr Tan Seng Giaw. Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chair Karpal Singh and myself will go down to Ijok to assist in the by-election campaign as and when requested by PKR.

DAP is aware that such close co-operation between the DAP and PKR in Ijok will be used by BN to promote their lies of a tie-up between DAP with PAS, when there is none. Despite such political risks, DAP remains steadfast in supporting PKR in Ijok as a symbol of the co-operation between both parties and its leaders, particularly Datuk Seri Anwar and Datuk Seri Wan Azizah.