Tunku Abdul Aziz

Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 – The DAP today signalled its intention to go for the country’s largest demography, the Malays, by organising an Aidil Fitri open house and launching its second Malay-majority branch.

Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng opened the party’s second Malay-majority branch in Taman Terata and exclaimed that DAP is for all Malaysians.

“We will fight for all races as long they are Malaysians, we will fight for their rights,’ he said at the Aidil Fitri open house in Kg Cheras Baru here.

The Penang chief minister added that the party has also not forgotten about Sabah and Sarawak.

“I hope they will be brave in bringing reformation like how we did in peninsular Malaysia so that we ca have change,” he said.

He asked the federal government to fight graft at all levels to ensure a prosperous economy.

“The government must stop hiding those are guilty of corruption and take actions against them,” he said.

Lim explained that Pakatan Rakyat will fight for women’s rights unlike Barisan National (BN).

“Look at the Penan girls, they are getting raped at will under Barisan National’s rule. But that will not happen under Pakatan Rakyat. Under our rule, we will not allow our women to raped. This issue is very close to my heart because we always struggle for women‘s rights,” he said to a rapturous applause.

Lim also blamed the mainstream media for it’s negative coverage of Pakatan Rakyat and the Penang government.

“They did not report when Transparency International praised the Penang government for its fight against corruption through the CAT system. CAT is Competency, Accountability and Transparency. I urged the government to implement the CAT system for the whole country,” he said.

Lim then received a token of appreciation from 30 members, mostly women, from Taman Teratai branch.

The spokesperson of the new branch told the audience that DAP is willing to fight for the people unlike BN.

“We joined DAP because we want to fight for women’s rights. I am very happy that they fight for our rights,” Nadia Bidin said.

Earlier hundreds visited the open house for a feast despite a heavy downpour.

Lim and DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang welcomed Selangor mentri besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and fellow colleagues from the Pakatan Rakyat.

On the way to the hall, Khalid was greeted with a silat performance. Inside the hall, Khalid was greeted by DAP advisor Chen Man Hin, DAP vice chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Kepong MP Tan Seng Giaw, Puchong MP Gobind Singh and Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua.

The guests of honour were delighted with a Nasyid performance as they sat for their at their table.

As soon the group began singing, heavy rain began to pour outside the hall. People from the outside began to crowd into the hall so that they could listen to Lim’s speech.

Gobind even stood up so that an old lady could have his seat. After the speech, Lim proceeded to give duit raya to children at the open house.

An hour after Khalid left, Datuk Hasan Ali appeared and was greeted by both Lims. Hasan however refused to give any comments.