Poet-activist Samad Said to join DAP today?

He is expected to explain his reasons at a news conference in Kelantan today - report

KUALA LUMPUR: Poet and activist A. Samad Said is expected to announce today that he is joining the DAP.

According to a news report, he had confirmed his decision to join the party, and is expected to explain his reasons today in Kelantan. “As we will be having a press conference, I will answer there,” he said, according to Malaysian Insider.

DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke was quoted as saying that Pak Samad, former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan and DAP leaders would be at a DAP event at Kampung Pasir Tumboh, in Gua Musang, Kelantan.

In the past several years Pak Samad has been active with the Bersih electoral reform group and was co-chairman of the group with Ambiga.

Today’s press conference is expected to be include veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang and Mohd Hatta Ramli of PAS, the MP for Kuala Krai.

Loke would not confirm if Pak Samad was joining the party. He said it would be up to Pak Samad to make an announcement.

If Pak Samad’s entry is confirmed, he would be the most prominent Malay to join the DAP in recent years, after decades of being viewed as a Chinese chauvinist party and labelled by Barisan Nasional politicians as being anti-Islam and anti-Malay.

The party’s appeal to younger Malays interested in politics was boosted by the entry of Zairil Khir Johari, Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz, Aspan Alias, Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud.