The DAP state chairman said the three-cornered fights in several other seats as well would result in a split in votes which may put Barisan Nasional (BN) in the lead.
In Batu Kitang, voter support for the Opposition is likely hovering at only 45% at present, Chong said, leaving the remaining 55% in BN’s hands, a far cry from results of a Merdeka Centre survey a few weeks earlier showing DAP in the lead with 55%.
“We started off with 55% and BN, 45%. We had the upper hand, but because of PKR, the situation has turned the other way round.
“So we have to work harder now and I believe in another few days we will cross 51%,” said Chong in a press conference held at the DAP headquarters here today.
In the pre-nomination survey, DAP was also shown to be more favourable than either BN or PKR in Batu Kitang. However the Batu Kitang seat was handed over to PKR after the latter agreed it would not contest in five other seats that DAP had an interest in.
However, PKR breached the agreement by contesting in the same seats as DAP, triggering the latter’s last minute move to field Abdul Aziz Isa in Batu Kitang instead.
Chong also made it clear that DAP would hold on to the Batu Kitang seat at all costs and would work hard to ensure BN did not get a free ride there.
“Our battle here is against BN. They (PKR) can say whatever they want, we will just ignore them. We are going full swing in Batu Kitang and I believe in the next nine days we can turn things around.
When asked about allegations that DAP was merely trying to test the waters by fielding Malay candidates in Chinese areas, Chong said the party wanted to ensure the placement of its first Malay Opposition member in the state assembly.
“Then he will be able to raise issues concerning the abuses in Tabung Haji, Baitulmal, as well as government policies concerning the Malay community. It will also help avoid the risk of having our statements twisted by PBB and turned into racial issues.
“It would be a check and balance. That’s why we have placed Malay candidates in Chinese areas, and we call on the voters to look beyond the race factor. We all want to be colour, race and religion blind.”