THERE is no point clinging to past issues between Umno and DAP, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said today. 

Responding to Umno Youth’s demand that DAP apologise to the party for its past accusations against the party, Loke said it was time to “move on”. 

“Everyone has their own point of view,” Loke said at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today.

“However, I agree with the essence of the Umno president’s (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s) speech, in which he asked everyone to forget the past and band together for the sake of the country. 

“We need to move on from any disputes or political enmity. If we keep bringing up old stories, it will never end,”

Yesterday, Umno Youth chief Muhamad Akmal Saleh said DAP must apologise for all the accusations that had been hurled at the Malay party when they were rivals. Akmal said this was to appease the Malay voters ahead of the state elections.

He said DAP must show that it is not anti-Malay, anti-Islam, racist and communist.

Meanwhile, Loke said all parties in the unity government must work to strengthen the ties that have existed for six months.

“There is no need for us to comment on this (question of apology). This (unity) government has been formed for more than six months. This government, the cabinet, is already functioning well, meeting every week for more than six months,” said Loke.

“So far there has been no issue of incompatibility between parties in the unity government. What is important today is, we have to show our commitment to working together. Let’s forget about political disputes, which have been emphasised on since the establishment of this government.”

Loke, who is the transport minister, urged all members of the unity government to instead focus on the upcoming state polls. – June 9, 2023.