UMNO Supreme Council member Nur Jazlan Mohamed said DAP must make changes to its party’s constitution if it wants to gain the support of the Malays. 

He said DAP has to drop the “Malaysian Malaysia” slogan and its secular state agenda from the party’s constitution if they want Malays to back them.  

“There is no other way to convince the Malays that DAP today is different from before, other than they are willing to drop the secular state agenda and the Malaysian Malaysia slogan in their party constitution.  

“Those two agendas continue to traumatise the Malays and make them unable to accept DAP’s struggle,” the former Pulai lawmaker said in a Facebook post today.  

Nur Jazlan said if DAP is really hoping for the support of Malays through its cooperation with Umno, then they have to be brave in making a major change to succeed in the next general election.  

DAP’s move to name Malay candidates in elections, who have gone on to become lawmakers, is nothing but a minor move to “justify” the party among the Malays.  

“The question is, can DAP make such a big sacrifice for its political survival?” the Dewan Negara deputy speaker asked. 

Clause II in DAP’s party constitution describes the Federal Constitution as a secular document and a “secular framework as the supreme law of the land”.  

Another article under the clause promoting national integration also called for the party to “infuse a national spirit and unity among all races to forge a common identity of a united Malaysian Malaysia”. 

Nur Jazlan said he was told by voters in Selangor and Johor that they could not accept DAP’s political stance as it was made in the interests of the Chinese community. 

Nur Jazlan said the Malays do not share the same view on MCA, alleging that the party is not as “extreme” as DAP, and Umno is the dominant force in Barisan Nasional (BN). 

“Umno has undertaken big sacrifices to cooperate with DAP, PKR and Amanah and in return had to pay a huge price for it as the party is accused by the grassroots of allying itself with a party or pact that is ‘extreme’,” he said.  

“In today’s political landscape, not just Umno has to change but all parties that are under the federal government coalition too, if they want to be accepted by the Malays.  

“If DAP remains hesitant to make substantial changes like the sacrifices Umno has made today, then I expect DAP to continue to be shunned by Malay voters, and Umno will also be rejected by Malays as long as we cooperate with DAP,” he added. 

Nur Jazlan said another challenge DAP faced was PAS’s growing support among Malays, which may lead to a political scenario where the Chinese voters would continue to vote for DAP while Malays would shift their allegiance to PAS. 

“To prevent that, DAP needs to become a moderate party that is supported by the Chinese community and accepted by Malay voters.  

“DAP needs to follow the successful formula of BN, which has proven to effectively champion Malay interests for over 60 years without neglecting the rights of non-Malay citizens,” he added. – August 30, 2023.