DAP quashes talk of joining BN

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Malaysia's opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) has quashed talk of joining the ruling Barisan Nasional, after its strong showing in Sunday's election.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) has quashed talk of joining the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN), after its strong showing in Sunday's election.


Party stalwart Lim Kit Siang said the DAP will not leave the opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance.


Having won 38, or more than 70 per cent, of the 51 seats it had contested at the national level, DAP has emerged as the biggest winner among the three opposition coalition partners, in the recently concluded 13th General Election.


The party's rising dominance and influence, especially among the Chinese community, have given rise to speculation that the DAP may be invited to join the BN, as the ruling coalition struggles to regain Chinese support.

Michael Yeoh, CEO of the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI), said: "Looking at the possibility, it could be a very... remote possibility of him (Najib) perhaps reaching out to the DAP and bringing the DAP into a national unity government, like his father did in the 1970s, when Tun Razak brought in the Gerakan."

Gerakan was formerly an opposition party, but joined the ruling coalition in 1973, after having won most of the seats in Penang.

Speaking at a news conference at the party's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, DAP strongman Lim Kit Siang said the party is considering all the proposals, options and suggestions.

But he was rather vague in his response.

"This is a field day for all sorts of ideas and proposals, and we will wait and see," said DAP's adviser Lim Kit Siang.

When pressed for a more definitive answer, Mr Lim finally had this to say: "We are loyal to the Pakatan Rakyat, we remain loyal to the Pakatan Rakyat, we will work as one unit in order to bring about change. And we will abide by it."


In Malaysian politics, everything is possible, but for now DAP is focusing on thanking voters for making history on Sunday -- 85 per cent of Malaysia's 13 million registered voters cast their ballots on Sunday, the highest voter turnout in history.


52 per cent voted for the opposition, but BN returned to power after winning 60 per cent of the seats.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...bn/669294.html


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