MALAYS, who form the country’s largest ethnic group, should not be afraid of Chinese-majority party DAP, said Daim Zainuddin.

The 80-year-old former finance minister, who has come out to campaign for Pakatan Harapan, said the opposition coalition’s four component parties were equal partners, unlike the component parties of Barisan National (BN).

“We have Amanah, Keadilan (PKR), DAP and Bersatu – each 25%. They have a voice and they can voice their objections and this is democracy, this is something that we should encourage, to let people voice their opinions to achieve unity.

“We don’t want a policy that sidelines others, policies must be for all races and take into consideration the interest of all races. So don’t be afraid of DAP,” he said in an interview with Apa Khabar TV, posted on Facebook.

He said DAP was a multiracial party, unlike BN component MCA, which was Chinese-based.

“They (DAP) have accepted (the positions) of the Malay language, Islam, Malay rulers in the (federal) constitution – they accept all.”

Daim, along with former minister Rafidah Aziz, was sacked from Umno for supporting the opposition. Former minister Rais Yatim is under investigation. 

All three had been critical of Umno and of caretaker prime minister Najib Razak’s government but Daim and Rafidah had gone further by openly campaigning at Pakatan Harapan ceramah.

The two Umno veterans had joined their former boss, PH chairman and prime ministerial candidate Dr Mahathir Mohamad at a ceramah in Malacca on Friday. – May 6, 2018.