Dap Needn T Drop Malaysian Malaysia Secular Nation Agenda Loke

---

 


JOHOR BY-ELECTIONS | Despite every party in the country having their own respective aims and views, this does not pose a problem for any party coming together in a coalition, said Anthony Loke.
Therefore, the DAP secretary-general said his party need not drop the secular nation agenda and its slogan ‘Malaysian Malaysia’ merely to reap support from other ethnic groups.
Loke emphasised that this is due to an understanding achieved between parties in the coalition before forming the unity government.
“Before forming the unity government, all parties agreed not to touch on each party’s principles and constitutions.
“Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was satisfied with our explanation before BN joined Pakatan Harapan to form the unity government.
“The provisions in the DAP constitution, which formed among matters of concern to the Malays, I have explained.
“DAP upholds the principles of Islam as the official religion, Bahasa Malaysia as the national language, and Article 153 of the Federal Constitution,” he said.
He told journalists last night after giving a speech at a Harapan ceramah at Wisma DAP Muar, Taman Sakeh Baru.
Loke was responding to urgings by Umno supreme council member Nur Jazlan Mohamed and MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker.
Umno supreme council member Nur Jazlan MohamedThe duo asked DAP to drop the ‘Malaysian Malaysia’ aim and urged the Harapan component to reassess its commitment to abolish the Bumiputera quota system.
They added that this stand allegedly prevented DAP from getting Malay support.
Polemic
On Wednesday, Nur Jazlan in defending Umno said others within the unity government need to change to be accepted by the Malays.
He claimed most Malay voters in Selangor and Johor still cannot easily accept DAP’s political ways.
Meanwhile, Ti said that the time has come for DAP to admit to its mistakes and seek forgiveness from Malaysians.
MCA vice-president Ti Lian KerHe said if the concept is in line with the struggles of Perikatan (1955) and the vision of Malaysia’s Father of Independence Tunku Abdul Rahman, then DAP needs to convey the concept in the context of culture, race and nation.
Last night, Loke contended that the matter should not be further raised or used to create a polemic that could jeopardise public confidence.
He said this is because DAP has never asked other parties within the unity government to amend their constitution as each party has its own aims or ideologies.
“For me, each (party) has their own views on their respective struggles. This does not become a problem when we work together in a political coalition, especially to form a unity government.
“What is important today is that we formed the unity government, work together within perimeters, and most importantly, uphold and safeguard the Federal Constitution,” he said.
Loke said he took note that all parties are now putting in effort to get voters' support.
He therefore said rather than creating such circumstances, it would be better for parties in the unity government coalition to focus on securing support, especially from Malay voters.
Put in the work
“I wish to point out that in my (parliamentary) constituency (Seremban) which has a majority of voters being Malays, I still won. Therefore it does not arise that DAP is unable to get Malay support.
“Yes, we need to put in the effort. We face challenges and I agree. But this does not mean that the Malays reject DAP. In my own constituency, the majority are Malays, in fact, more.
“Whether in Seremban or my state constituency, both areas have more Malay voters than Chinese. But I won with a high majority. Thus this proves that if we put in the work, our approach and service to the people would be evaluated by voters.
“Not evaluated in terms of each party’s ideologies, but also evaluation of our effort and track record,” he added. - Mkini

---