DAP’S direction must be based on multiracialism and not based on a single race, said Anthony Loke during a live interview with Majlis Professor Negara on Facebook today.

“This is based on the Malaysian context as the base,” said Loke when asked about Sg Pelek assemblyman Ronnie Liu’s remarks that the party should not degrade itself to gain Malay votes.

Loke said that Liu’s views were his own and did not represent DAP as a whole.

“He doesn’t represent all of DAP. His opinion can only represent himself and a part of the party only,” said the DAP organising secretary.

Liu, however, is free to air his views as DAP is open to criticisms, added the Seremban MP.

“But the leadership believes in multiracialism and hence there is a debate in the party now,” said Loke.

“Although, there are efforts to topple us in the DAP elections (in June), we have a duty to explain to delegates why we are multiracial and do not believe in supporting just one race.”

Liu attracted attention when he was reported urging the party to reject “degrading” itself to gain more Malay votes.

“DAP is a multiracial party. The party need not dilute its Chinese-ness just because of criticism from our political enemies,” said the DAP central executive committee member during the launch of DAP veteran Liew Ah Kim’s book in Klang on Sunday.

“DAP is for all Malaysians. We need to cooperate with other Malay parties, but we shouldn’t degrade or portray ourselves as a non-Chinese party.”

Liu’s remarks, which comes as the party faces national elections this year, have touched a raw nerve among some of the DAP lawmakers, such as Tony Pua and Hannah Yeoh, who said it made the party look bad.

“He has done a great disservice to many of us DAP leaders out there who are working hard to fight off prejudices and stigmas against the DAP.

“Ronnie Liu does not represent me. The DAP that Ronnie wants is not the DAP I joined,” said Yeoh, who is Segambut MP.

To capture the stigma DAP still faces despite in government since 2008 in Penang, Loke was asked why Islam was “brought down” when in government.

“Have allocations to mosques and Islamic organisations being cut off during Pakatan Harapan’s 22-month government? Have we stopped the building of mosques?” Loke replied to Dr Ridhuan Tee Abdullah. 

“Please give us specific issues so that it can be discussed instead of general terms.”

But when pressed, Ridhuan, an anti-DAP academic, could only point to the fake issue of azans being stopped in Penang, where DAP is the state government.

“Can you show me where a DAP leader has criticised the azan in Penang?” said Loke.

He said the azan issue was just political attacks by its rivals and did not even make sense.

“Islam in Penang comes under the auspices of the King. The Penang Chief Minister does not even manage Islamic affairs in the state. Hence, the question of DAP degrading Islam in the state should not even arise,” he said.

The Facebook live was moderated by MPN fellow Dr Muhammad Asri Mohd Ali. – April 13, 2021.