DAP opening branches in 'Malay areas' due to waning Chinese support

DAP appears to be worried over waning support from the Chinese community as the party opens branches in Malay-dominant areas in the state to attract Malay support.

Penang UMNO information chief, Datuk Shabudin Yahaya said however, the new DAP branches consist of members from their own coalition who are disappointed with the party's top notch.

"It is true that recently, several new DAP branches mushroomed in traditional Malay villages here (Kepala Batas), in the party's efforts to attract Malay support after Chinese support was seen as declining.

"This was obvious at the State Assembly where Chinese DAP and PKR representatives began to show their lack of support for the party (DAP), especially for Lim Guan Eng (Penang chief minister), and because of this, he (Lim) has begun to use a different strategy," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after presenting contributions to 200 students of Institutes of Higher Learning (IPT) in Skudai here yesterday.

Shabudin was responding to a report on news portals that Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, had opened six new DAP branches comprising Malay members in Kepala Batas recently.

Shabudin, who is also Tasek Gelugor MP, said those who joined the party had always been its supporters and were not new supporters as touted.

Meanwhile, he said RM100,000 was handed over to 700 students who had received offers to continue their studies at IPTs this year.