DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook has accused PAS of avoiding a direct electoral confrontation with DAP in the Johor state election, instead relying on its so-called “proxy”, Barisan Nasional (BN).
According to Loke, PAS’s decision not to contest in constituencies where DAP is fielding candidates is part of a broader strategy aimed at consolidating support for BN candidates, particularly those from MCA, as reported by Sin Chew Daily.
“PAS knows that even if it fields candidates against DAP in the state election, it will not win and will only split the vote. That is why it has chosen this approach – to transfer its votes to BN and help MCA candidates win,” he said during a ceramah last night.
He also described PAS as lacking principles, claiming the party had instructed its supporters to back BN in seats not contested by Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Loke urged Pakatan Harapan (PH) supporters to turn out in force on July 11 to defend the coalition’s seats, noting that PH previously won 15 of the 26 seats it contested in the last state election.
He warned that a strong BN victory, particularly if it secures more than 50 of the 56 contested seats, could lead to one-party dominance and weaken Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s position, potentially affecting the stability of the federal government.
Loke added that such a scenario could also reduce the need for political cooperation among parties in the future.
“Johor voters must come out in force to vote, to prevent Johor’s political landscape from becoming overwhelmingly dominated by BN,” he said.
Meanwhile, previous claims by DAP’s former Mengkibol assemblyman Chew Chong Sin alleging a secret pact between BN and PN have been denied by Johor Umno, which insisted there were no discussions between the two coalitions.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong also recently rejected similar allegations, pointing to ongoing contests between BN and PN in several seats in the Johor polls.
