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PUTRAJAYA – DAP has characterised the presence of Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman and Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at its national congress today as signifying a historic new chapter for the parties and Malaysian politics.
Its secretary-general Anthony Loke also took a swipe at former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, a former president of Umno, who has recently amplified his criticisms against DAP.
“This is a new record for the congress, because it is the first time Umno has attended. This is the first Umno president to attend,” he said in his speech at the event here today.
He noted that Mahathir had attended a previous national congress in 2016, but that was after he had left the party and co-founded Bersatu, which had then begun a short-lived alliance with DAP.
“Previously there was, but it was a former Umno president who attended. He was not a member of Umno at that time.
“He (Mahathir) had then told a press conference that he was surprised because DAP had changed his perceptions.
“(Dr Mahathir had said:) ‘I didn't expect the DAP leaders to speak in Malay’. He also then said he was surprised that we sang a DAP song that had lyrics in Malay.
“I hope the former Umno president does not forget, because he forgets easily,” Loke quipped, in likely reference to Mahathir’s famous quote “Melayu mudah lupa” (Malays easily forget).
Other BN politicians accompanying Zahid, who is deputy prime minister, to warm applause from the congress delegates were BN secretary-general and foreign minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir, and Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
BN and DAP are now part of the unity government helmed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is chairman of Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Loke particularly took the opportunity to ward off political propaganda, which has been ramped up in recent weeks, about DAP being anti-Malay.
“DAP has never been hostile to any Malays or other races. Datuk Seri (Zahid), come here, see for yourself... Are we enemies to the Malays? The answer is no.
“We are not enemies to the Malays or any race,” he said at the event in Marriott Hotel here.
Also present was DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng, as well as leaders of PH parties PKR and Amanah.
They included PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, who is the economy minister, and vice-presidents Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Saraswathy Kandasami.
Amirudin is Selangor menteri besar and Saraswathy is deputy entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister.
Amanah was represented by its president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and deputy president Datuk Seri Mujahid Yusof Rawa.
This is the first DAP congress since the formation of the unity government after the 15th general election (GE15) in November last year.
DAP to go all out for Umno in Pelangai
It also comes a day after PH won the two by-elections for the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state constituencies in Johor last night.
Loke stressed that DAP will now deploy its entire machinery to help the PH-BN alliance win the upcoming Pelangai state by-election in Pahang on October 7.
The by-election will be contested by a candidate from Umno on behalf of BN.
The seat became vacant following the death of Umno’s Datuk Seri Johari Harun, who was a Pahang state executive councillor, in a plane crash near Bandar Elmina in Shah Alam, Selangor, on August 17.
He said that he was giving the commitment to reciprocate the dedication shown by the BN machinery that helped the PH candidates win in the by-elections in Johor.
“Those victories (in Pulai and Simpang Jeram) served to inject new confidence in the unity government and of course we will bring this spirit to the Pelangai state by-election later.
“We witnessed the seriousness of the machinery in Johor to ensure wins for the PH candidates.
“The same formula of success will of course be used when it comes to the Pelangai contest later.
“It will be PH’s turn to campaign for the Umno and BN candidate,” he said. – The Vibes, September 10, 2023