DAP has PM’s ear, but give him room to manage unity govt: Loke 

KUALA LUMPUR – DAP has spoken up on issues it disagrees with within the unity government but this is done behind closed doors with the prime minister (PM), party secretary-general Anthony Loke said. 

He told BFM 89.9 in an interview this morning that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim needed room to manage the government comprising 19 parties, a feat he described as a “very delicate challenge”. 

“You have to give him room to manage and balance 19 parties. If we do not give him that and support him, he will face a lot of difficulties. 

“Of course, there are people asking if we are afraid of speaking up. It’s not an issue of not speaking up – speaking up is easy, but how to manage (it is) a very delicate challenge,” Loke said in the radio interview. 

The transport minister was asked about DAP’s “bottom line” in politics or the line that the party will not cross, as well as lingering unhappiness among party grassroots over its cooperation with old foes Umno where there are still calls for the return of jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who has been convicted of corruption. 

Loke added that a political party should not openly state its bottom line in politics as this would make it very difficult to work in a coalition. 

“In our leadership, we have internal mechanisms, we are all aware of the party’s position (on issues). 

“These are things we communicate with the prime minister. I communicate with PM frequently what our views are,” said Loke. 

DAP also views the unity government under Anwar as the “only option” because the alternative is “a single-race coalition based on race and religion” to govern Malaysia, a reference to the opposition Perikatan Nasional, although Loke did not name them  

“That’s not an option. If this (unity) government fails, what is the option?” Loke said. 

“So we have to make this government work, and the PM is committed to it. That’s why we (DAP) make the decisions that we make.” 

Loke also addressed unhappy party grassroots, saying he announced that he would take full responsibility for DAP’s decision to be in the unity government after it was formed following elections last November. 

“We leave it to the public, to history, to judge us. What is important for DAP is that we contribute to nation-building.” – The Vibes, June 15, 2023