Move on from the past, DAP sec-gen Loke tells Umno Youth after apology demand
KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 — DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has today told Umno Youth wing to heed its president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's call to forget the two parties’ hostile past for the sake of the nation.
After the wing called for DAP to apologise to Umno, Loke said this issue will not be solved if it keeps bringing up the past.
“That is their opinion. It's assembly, of course there will be lots of opinions.
“However, I agree with the Umno president's speech or the essence of it where he called for its members to move on from the past for the sake of the country,” he said.
“Every political party has their own sentiment towards their rivals but if they keep playing the same issue again and again, where is the ending?” he asked.
The transport minister said in forming the unity government, every component party has agreed to each other's commitment.
“It's been six month since we agreed to form the unity government and it is functioning well. So far, there is no issue of incompatibility between all component parties,” he said.
Yesterday, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh had demanded an apology from DAP for the latter’s purported past sins and biting remarks against the party. He then defended his stance during his closing speech at the Umno Youth general assembly yesterday.
In his speech, Dr Akmal had demanded DAP apologise to Umno purportedly for its past mistakes, and to prove its sincerity to the coalition government led by PKR’s Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, which comprises Pakatan Harapan component parties and the Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, and Gabungan Bersatu Sabah.
Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi quickly dismissed the need for DAP to apologise as the matter does not need to be raised again by his party.
Later that day, Dr Akmal remained defiant and still stood with his demand.
Last night, Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan was reported by Malaysiakini that he backed Umno Youth's controversial demand for enemy-turned-ally DAP to apologise to the party for its past attacks on them.
