UMNO has sent a message of protest to the DAP top leadership after former Publicity Secretary Tony Pua called Barisan Nasional (BN) a ‘corrupt coalition’.

Its secretary general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said that the party also urged DAP leadership not to name the former Damansara MP as a candidate in the upcoming Selangor elections.

He said this step needs to be taken if the unity government is serious in keeping the harmony.

“He is daydreaming until he forgets that today’s government is not a Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, but a large coalition government of BN, PH, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Warisan which consists of 19 political parties.

“What he said only highlights his own shallowness,” he said in a post on Facebook today.

Last night, Tony Pua while speaking at the DAP Fundraising Dinner at the Petaling Jaya City Hall, was reported to have called BN a ‘corrupt alliance’, with the same label given to Bersatu, another Malay nationalist party.

Pua hopes that PH can form its own government without the involvement of Umno and BN in the next general election.

Earlier today DAP secretary general Anthony Loke distanced the party from Pua.

He said Pua’s remarks about BN at the  fundraiser were “uncalled for” and did not reflect the party’s position,  Loke said.

“It does not represent the party leadership. The speech, which was an attack on a partner in the unity government was, uncalled for,” Loke said in a statement.

“Any provocative statement on partners in the coalition is not in line with the party’s position and its direction at the current time.

“I would like to remind all DAP leaders and members to always maintain harmony in the relationship between parties and coalitions in the unity government for the sake of political stability, which is much needed at a time when the country is facing various external challenges.

“Anyone in DAP who cannot keep their mouth shut on this matter is not welcome to speak on the DAP stage,” he warned party members. –  June 24, 2023.