DAP sounds like MCA? Loke says 'proper channels’ used to voice out

The DAP’s performance so far is a differentiating factor between the party and MCA, its rival turned partner in government, said DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.

Speaking as a guest on the Keluar Sekejap podcast, Loke was quizzed by co-hosts Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Sufian Hamdan on whether the DAP has compromised its principles when faced with certain controversial decisions linked to Umno leaders.

“Firstly, I’m confident that our performance is better than MCA. Secondly, there are issues that we will voice out on, but there are proper channels.

“It’s not that we didn’t state our stand,” said Loke.

“I don’t know how MCA conducted themselves while in government but for us (DAP) there are matters that we will raise directly with the prime minister.

“What differentiated the past and present, (is that) now we are the government and not the opposition,” said Loke, who is also transport minister.

Loke added that he had repeatedly told DAP members that a collective decision could be made to replace him if they had lost faith in his ability to lead the party in its current position.

Khairy and Shahril earlier pointed out that the MCA had in the past, as part of BN-led governments, also adopted a “similar” line of using proper channels when pressed for the party’s stand on certain issues.

Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Sufian Hamdan

In the current situation, the two former Umno leaders cited a decision to drop Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s 47 graft charges and former Umno president Najib Abdul Razak’s royal pardon, raising questions on whether the DAP has been forced to compromise on their principles in order to remain in government.

The bigger picture

Loke admitted while there are unhappy voices within the party on both major decisions, there were bigger concerns surrounding the impact of any move to withdraw support from its 40 MPs for the government.

“There are unhappy voices, but is the alternative for us to exit the government? If we leave the government now, what will happen?

“If let’s say DAP withdraws its support of 40 seats, that means the government loses majority support and you have to go back to the drawing board again,” he said.

“Is that what we want as a country or party right now? The answer is no, and I’m confident our support base feels the same way,” he said.

At the same time, Loke noted a need for the DAP to meet the expectations of its supporters through the performance of the party’s representatives in government.

Following the conclusion of GE15 and the formation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration, MCA and MIC are left with only three MPs in Parliament and no cabinet positions. - Mkini