DAP must reassure Malays we’re not the enemy, says Loke

 

We must groom more leaders from all communities in order for DAP to become a real multiracial party, says Loke Siew Fook.

PETALING JAYA: DAP has no other option but to reassure the Malays that the party is not their enemy, says DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook.

“Our messaging approach to the Malay community is that we are not against them,” said Loke on his plans to boost support from the community.

DAP has long struggled to find a foothold in the Malay community, with its enemies branding it a chauvinist party over its struggle for Chinese language and education.

However, Loke said: “We are fighting for (all) Malaysians. We want good governance, a society that is free from corruption and a government that is fair to its citizens. These values have to be communicated to the Malay community.”

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He told FMT in a special interview that there was no magic formula to increase Malay support and the party must continue engaging the Malays and ensure more diversity in the party leadership.

“Right now we have a few young Malay leaders in the central executive committee such as Syahredzan Johan and Young Syefura Othman. We need to groom more from all communities including the Malay community in order for DAP to become a real multiracial party,” he said.

Loke also rejected the notion that DAP was a “bogeyman” among Malays, saying the party was just a “natural punching bag” for Malay-based parties.

“All the major Malay parties, be they Umno, PAS or Bersatu, will try to paint us as an anti-Malay party so we (have) become their punching bag.

“Even now, when we are no longer in government, we are still being blamed,” he said, pointing out how illogical it was to think that DAP could control the entire government with just six ministers in a Cabinet of 28 when PH was in power. - FMT