IT is not a problem for any party in the country to form a coalition despite having different aims and goals, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said.

He said there was no need for the party to drop the secular nation agenda and its slogan “Malaysian Malaysia” merely to reap support from other ethnic groups.

Loke also said before forming the unity government, component party leaders had agreed not to touch on DAP’s principles and constitutions.

“Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was satisfied with our explanation before Barisan Nasional (BN) joined Pakatan Harapan (PH) to form the unity government.

“The provisions in the DAP constitution, which formed among matters of concern to the Malays, I have explained.

“DAP upholds the principles of Islam as the official religion, Bahasa Melayu as the national language, and article 153 of the Federal Constitution,” he told reporters after a speech at a PH ceramah in Muar yesterday.

Earlier Umno Supreme Council member Nur Jazlan Mohamed and MCA vice-president Ti Lian Kee urged DAP to drop the Malaysian Malaysia slogan and to reassess its commitment to abolishing the Bumiputera quota system.

They added that this stand allegedly prevented DAP from getting Malay support.

Jazlan said voters in Selangor and Johor cannot easily accept DAP’s political ways while Ti said it is time for DAP to admit to its mistakes and seek forgiveness from Malaysians.

Loke, who is also transport minister, then said the matter should not be further discussed or used as a polemic.

He added that the other parties in the unity government have never told DAP to amend its constitution.

“For me, each (party) has their own views on their respective struggles. This does not become a problem when we work together in a political coalition, especially to form a unity government.

“What is important today is that we formed the unity government, work together within perimeters, and most importantly, uphold and safeguard the Federal Constitution,” he said. – September 2, 2023.