DAP CEC members reiterate party’s commitment to upholding and defending Federal Constitution
KUALA LUMPUR, Sep 11 — The DAP central executive committee (CEC) has reiterated that the party will always uphold, respect, and defend the Federal Constitution.
Committee members Young Syefura Othman, Syahredzan Johan and Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali in a joint statement said that the party is for all races, ethnicities, communities and lineages in Malaysia, including the Malays.
They stressed that DAP’s struggle is for Malaysia for Malaysians.
“We welcome the statement of DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook at the 2023 DAP national congress yesterday that the party will always be guided by the Federal Constitution.
“This is further emphasised through the resolution that was approved by delegates at the party’s national congress which reinforces the party’s commitment as stated in the Shah Alam Declaration more than a decade ago.
“Which is to defend the Federal Constitution including Islam as the Federal Religion, the special position of the Malays and the Sabah Natives and Sarawak, the Malay language as the national language, a parliamentary democratic system and a Constitutional Monarch as well as the legitimate rights and interests of other races and communities in Malaysia,” the trio said.
They said the Malays in DAP, like other races and communities, play an important role in contributing to the party and instilling a sense of patriotism among the people.
“Malay DAP members have positions at every level of the party — be it as regular members, branch committee members, council members, state assembly members, members of Parliament and members of the CEC.
“It is clear that our struggle is in line with the Federal Constitution, and in accordance with the law. The proof is that DAP is consistently involved in the democratic process and national elections,” they said.
“With this, we hope there will be no parties, whether friends or opponents, who question the basis of the struggle and the stance of the DAP party from now on regarding basic matters in the Constitution.”
Yesterday, Loke told the party’s national congress that it would continue to champion “centrist” politics, a point he repeated in most parts of his policy speech delivered in the presence of top Umno leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
It was a message likely meant to placate the grassroots of both his own party and Umno amid rumours that both sides are still uneasy about their alliance, as this year’s annual assembly marked the first time the two former arch-rivals graced each other at an official party function as colleagues and members of the federal government.
In an improvised speech delivered predominantly in Bahasa Melayu, Loke stressed that the DAP is not extreme and that its core beliefs are always above all about unity in diversity.
The DAP minister then said it was an ideology that aligns with the Federal Constitution, which enshrines good governance and equality before the law.
