Former MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker has questioned whether the Democratic Action Party (DAP) is prepared to withdraw past political positions linked to the status of Bahasa Malaysia, following recent developments involving the UMNO leadership. In a statement issued on January 19, 2026, he argued that the ongoing polemic surrounding the national language could be eased if DAP took steps similar to those recently demonstrated by UMNO’s top leadership.
Ti said the controversy over Bahasa Malaysia was not a new issue, noting that it had intensified during the period when DAP was still in opposition. He pointed to earlier political demands related to the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), where DAP had called for unconditional recognition while rejecting proposals that tied recognition to compulsory proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia and Malaysian history. According to him, this approach shifted the debate away from policy discussions and turned it into a highly charged political dispute.
He maintained that tensions surrounding the language issue escalated as a result of what he described as confrontational political rhetoric and longstanding demands that were perceived as challenging the constitutional position of Bahasa Malaysia as the sole official language. Ti suggested that the situation could be defused if DAP openly accepted conditions requiring Bahasa Malaysia and history as prerequisites for UEC recognition, while also withdrawing earlier demands that placed other languages on an equal footing with the national language.
Ti also urged DAP to review and remove past political statements that remain accessible through official party channels and that, in his view, continue to fuel suspicion and political exploitation of the issue. He argued that as long as these historical positions remain unaddressed, the language debate will persist regardless of current policy positions.
Referring to recent events, Ti highlighted the decision by Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to retract remarks suggesting the existence of internal groupings within DAP. Zahid later clarified that his comments were not meant to imply factionalism and withdrew them after concerns were raised. Ti cited this move as an example of political responsibility, questioning when DAP would demonstrate a similar willingness to retract or reassess its past statements on language-related matters.
According to Ti, unresolved political legacies continue to shape public perception, particularly within the Malay community. He said lingering concerns and mistrust towards DAP have persisted over the years, even though the core issue relates to party politics rather than ethnicity. He added that these perceptions have also contributed to broader unease affecting inter-communal relations.
Ti stressed that the language issue may no longer be actively raised by DAP leaders, but remains embedded in the party’s historical political narrative. Until that legacy is directly addressed, he warned, debates over Bahasa Malaysia and related suspicions are likely to resurface repeatedly and remain part of Malaysia’s political discourse.
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