'DAP will face any BN component party and ready to dispel notion it is a race-based party'

PUTRAJAYA: DAP is ready to face any Barisan Nasional component party in the 14th General Election as it attempts to dispel the notion that it is only ready to contest seats dominated by a certain race.
DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke (pix) said such allegations are baseless as many seats contested by DAP are multi-racial or mixed seats.
"The seats we are contesting against MCA are not all Chinese majority seats but are mostly mixed seats. The best example is Ayer Hitam, as the area has more than 50% Malay voters," the Seremban MP said.
"There is no issue of us wanting to beat Chinese leaders hence becoming a racial party," he said.
DAP, he pointed out, has many Indians and Malay representatives at present and will field more Malay candidates for the elections.
"We have Malay, Indian, Kadazan and Iban candidates as well. There may be more Chinese candidates but the entire line-up of candidates is a diverse mix.
"The list of our Malay candidates is also growing. We can place a Malay candidate but should also look at the suitability of the area, the strategy and capabilities of the candidates," he added.
Meanwhile, Johor DAP chairman Liew Chin Tong said seat distributions are still subject to the decision at the national level by the Pakatan Harapan committee.
"At present, we are only being given MCA, Gerakan or MIC seats. We are limited by present seat negotiations but we will contest in the seats allocated to us," he said.
Liew was recently named DAP's candidate for Ayer Hitam, which pits him against MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong in the coming polls.
Wee has been the MP for Ayer Hitam for three terms.
Malay voters make up 57.57% of Ayer Hitam's electorate, while Chinese voters account for 38.43% and Indians 4%.