In response to criticism from UMNO veteran Datuk Mustapha Yaakub, DAP National Vice Chairman Syahredzan Johan has firmly reiterated that his party has not compromised its core values or principles, despite its collaboration with UMNO within the Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Harapan (BN-PH) coalition.
Mustapha had previously suggested that DAP had grown “increasingly docile” since joining forces with UMNO in the unity government. Using colourful analogies, he compared DAP to a “wild horse” that had once resisted PAS’s attempts to control it, but is now allegedly becoming more submissive under UMNO. He also remarked that UMNO’s cooperation with DAP does not signify a binding alliance but is limited to their coalition agreement.
Responding to these comments, Syahredzan emphasized that DAP, throughout its 59-year journey, has consistently remained rooted in its principles and has never strayed from the framework of the Federal Constitution. According to the Bangi Member of Parliament, DAP’s longstanding commitment includes defending Malaysia’s foundational elements, such as the special position of Malays and the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak, the status of Islam as the religion of the Federation, and the nation’s parliamentary democracy and Constitutional Monarchy.
He also stressed that DAP champions the rights of all Malaysians, ensuring that the civil liberties and political rights of every community are upheld, as guaranteed by the Constitution. In light of the veteran UMNO leader’s remarks, Syahredzan underscored the importance of mutual respect among coalition partners, asserting that while DAP respects the ideological struggles of its allies, it also expects that same respect in return.
Asserting DAP’s political independence, he noted that the party has never been “ridden” by any other political force, and that every collaboration it has entered into has been guided by shared principles and respectful engagement. While acknowledging differences among the various parties in the current Madani government, he maintained that these are natural in a democracy, and what truly matters are the many areas of agreement that bring the coalition together.
The statement was seen as a direct rebuttal to Mustapha’s implication that DAP’s identity had been diluted through coalition politics. Syahredzan’s remarks appear aimed at reassuring both supporters and critics that DAP remains steadfast in its mission to serve a united and progressive Malaysia.
FlyingBird is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact creator@newswav.com.