SELANGOR DAP is confident of winning 16 seats in the state polls due in June, secretary Ng Sze Han said.

With DAP’s secretary-general Anthony Loke insisting the party must retain all its seats in the state, Ng said it is achievable even if there are challenges in terms of obtaining Malay votes.

DAP won 16 seats in 2018 but Teratai assemblyman Bryan Lai defected to Warisan last year.

“We are still very confident we will win 16 state seats again,” Ng told The Malaysian Insight.

“The only difficulty lies in predicting the Malay youth voting trend.

“Will they continue to support the unity government or are there any changes in their perception?

“Based on our observations, the performance of the unity government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has attracted many swing voters,” he added.

Ng said current voter concerns revolve around income and job opportunities.

He said as long as the economy recovers, everyone will have expectations and give the unity government their support.

“The support for the unity government from non-Muslims is greater, even greater than during the last general election,” he said.

Taking Loke’s warning seriously, Ng, the assemblyman for Kinrara, said Selangor DAP’s task is to ensure no seats are lost, adding that preparations have entered the final stages.

“We have conveyed his instructions to the grassroots, and their job is to relay the correct information to the people.

“After the last election, we found that our opponents used social media to peddle disinformation, including negative, racially charged sentiments,” he said.

The state elections will also witness unprecedented cooperation between DAP and Barisan Nasional (BN).

Ng revealed that the meeting between the two was harmonious.

“We followed the model of the federal unity government and had some meetings with Umno leaders to discuss seat allocation and preparations.

“We will help BN to canvas for votes. Everyone is mentally prepared to work together,” he said, adding that interaction between the once sworn enemies had been positive.

“Voters support a moderate unity government, while strongly rejecting racially extremist coalitions and parties.

“We have already begun moving into the major rural areas and fishing villages. We will also provide assistance to some constituencies contested by BN or Umno,” he said.

In 2018, DAP swept all 16 seats it contested in the state: Sekinchan, Kuala Kubu Baru, Dusun Tua, Teratai, Balakong, Seri Kembangan, Kinrara, Subang Jaya, Bukit Gasing, Kampung Tunku, Bandar Utama, Bandar Baru Klang, Pandamaran, Kota Kemuning, Banting and Sungai Pelek.

Rural challenge

However, Selangor DAP assistant organising secretary Tony Leong said the so-called “green wave” by Perikatan Nasional (PN) is very powerful and DAP will struggle in rural areas.

The wave is the upsurge in Malay votes propelling PN to success in the general election and inflicting a humiliating defeat on BN, the reverse of expert predictions before the polls, which had PN all but wiped out as a political entity.

Fresh from its general election success, the PN leadership is banking on the wave continuing in Selangor and Negri Sembilan.

“We have to work harder to connect with voters, hold multiple events, and get the concept of a moderate government across,” Leong said.

Leong, the Pandamaran assemblyman, was positive about DAP’s cooperation with Umno, and believes it will increase the unity government’s chances of retaining power in Selangor, Penang and Negri Sembilan.

“Meanwhile, we hope to win more seats in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu than we did in 2018.”

Selangor DAP publicity secretary Wong Siew Ki said aside from the challenge of winning 16 seats, it is also crucial to help the party’s allies win the other 14 required to form a new state government.

“We want to win and be in power, show that the Pakatan Harapan government is still trusted by the people after three terms in power, and take a two-thirds majority. This is the key point,” she said.

She admitted that working with Umno requires some adjustments, and that the two sides are still looking for the most suitable model.

“Many voters are wondering whether the DAP is cooperating with BN or Umno. The current model in Selangor is that PH and Umno are cooperating, not BN, because only Umno has seats in Selangor.

“The current direction of negotiations is Umno defends its constituencies, but the final result is still uncertain because the leadership is responsible for the negotiations,” the Balakong assemblyman said.

Wong revealed that the publicity strategy for the state polls will focus on the past welfare policies and incentives of the state government.

“The Selangor government has been advocating ‘returning wealth to the people’ for the past three terms.

“It should also let voters know how their taxes can help them back,” she said.

Wong added that preparations for the elections are currently in full swing, especially in terms of propaganda.

“We will use the internet and social media as a lead to make sure the message reaches everyone,” she added.

There are 56 seats in the Selangor assembly. Of the 40 seats controlled by PH, 19 are held by PKR, 15 by DAP and six by Amanah.

The other 16 seats are held by Umno (5), Bersatu (4), Parti Bangsa Malaysia (2), Pejuang (2) and PAS (1). – April 27, 2023.