Loke dismisses allegation that PM out to split Chinese with khat

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is not scheming to split the Chinese and unite the Malays, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

He was responding to a viral audio clip in Chinese, where a purported DAP member accused the 94-year-old leader of using the khat issue to create fissures.

Asked if he agreed with this, Loke retorted: "Don't put words into my mouth."

"I never said I believed it. I am saying Mahathir is a statesman, he is prime minister for all Malaysians," the DAP leader told reporters in Subang Jaya this morning.

The Education Ministry's introduction of khat (Jawi calligraphy) in the Bahasa Malaysia syllabus for vernacular schools has ignited a heated debate and left DAP in a bind.

In the video that went viral on social media, the DAP member also accused Mahathir of attempting to crush the Chinese voters' support for DAP by harping on the khat issue.

"Mahathir is the main culprit behind the controversy surrounding khat, UEC (United Examination Certificate) or the Lynas issue. 

"All his life, he wanted to split the Chinese and unite the Malays," said the DAP member.

Loke, who is also DAP organising secretary, dismissed MCA's call for his party to pressure Mahathir to abort the implementation of khat in vernacular schools.

"No. We don't have to listen to MCA. We listen to the people and our members. We are not obligated to MCA. We are obligated to the people.

"We are serving the people. We are not serving MCA," he said. 

Yesterday, MCA deputy president Dr Mah Hang Soon (photo) urged DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and veteran Lim Kit Siang to pressure Mahathir into withdrawing khat from vernacular schools.

According to Mah, Mahathir would have to back down with the opposition of DAP, which has 42 MPs.

Meanwhile, Loke said all DAP elected representatives had arrived at a united position on the implementation of khat in vernacular schools during the meeting last night.

"We gathered yesterday and we have listened to the views and feedback from the elected representatives throughout the country,"

"We came to a united position and that view and feedback, we will convey to the cabinet," he said. - Mkini