
15 DAP branches want ‘non-extreme' BN-PH candidates in Melaka polls
Members of the 15 DAP branches in Jasin after their AGM yesterday. They were joined by Melaka DAP leaders Khoo Poay Tiong and Kerk Chee Yee. (Melaka DAP pic)
PETALING JAYA : Fifteen DAP branches in Jasin, Melaka, have urged the unity coalition of Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional against fielding candidates who are 'extreme' in the next Melaka state election.
At their annual general meeting on Saturday, the 15 DAP branches unanimously passed a resolution stating their support for the unity government's candidates, on condition that they do not practise 'extreme politics that can divide the people'.
'We will not compromise with any party or politician that promotes hate and division,' read a joint statement issued by the branches after the AGM, which was attended by Melaka DAP chief Khoo Poay Tiong and publicity secretary Kerk Chee Yee.
The DAP branches said political stability, racial harmony, and progressive leadership were essential to the future of Malaysia, and that they wanted to build a more unified, just, and prosperous nation.
While they mentioned no names, the push against 'divisive' politicians appears to be aimed at the outspoken Umno Youth chief, Dr Akmal Saleh.
The Jasin parliamentary constituency is composed of five state constituencies, including the Merlimau seat currently held by the Umno firebrand.
Akmal, a Melaka executive councillor, has repeatedly locked horns with various DAP leaders since the formation of the unity government, defending his outspoken nature as a defence of Malay-Muslim rights.
He has been outspoken on a range of issues, including the proposal to make Emergency-era New Villages a Unesco world heritage site, KK Mart's sale of socks bearing the word 'Allah', and the role of vernacular schools.
Earlier this month, he slammed DAP after nine Melaka branches called for BN and PH to have an equal share of seats in the state election.
Melaka has 28 state assembly seats. In the 2021 polls, BN won 21, PH secured five, and Perikatan Nasional claimed two.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
By-election not worth time or money, says Tengku Zafrul
Tengku Zafrul Aziz denied having discussions for a by-election to pave the way for him to become Selangor menteri besar. PETALING JAYA : Tengku Zafrul Aziz has dismissed speculation of an impending by-election in Selangor to pave the way for him to become menteri besar. Tengku Zafrul, who is investment, trade and industry minister, said no such discussions for a by-election had taken place and it was never a factor in his decision to quit Umno. 'I do not support triggering by-elections without urgent necessity as they incur time and public funds,' he said in a statement. Tengku Zafrul announced his decision to resign as an Umno member, as well as from all party posts, on May 30. He also expressed his intention to join PKR. Tengku Zafrul today said he would continue carrying out his responsibilities until the end of this year. 'As for my position as a minister, I leave this entirely to the discretion of the prime minister. I remain ready to serve the nation in any capacity.' He also reaffirmed that his decision to leave Umno was entirely his own and made without coercion. 'In a democratic society, every individual has the right to make personal choices. I deeply appreciate all the feedback and acceptance extended to me in response to this decision,' Tengku Zafrul said. There has been much speculation over his fate as minister as his final term as senator expires at the end of the year. Also, there is talk of a Cabinet reshuffle following the resignation of Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad from their respective ministerial posts. In a Facebook video previously, former Umno leader Isham Jalil claimed that Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari would be ordered to vacate his Sungai Tua seat to allow Tengku Zafrul to contest in the by-election. Winning the by-election could then allow Tengku Zafrul to take over as menteri besar, as speculated previously, while Amirudin could join Anwar's Cabinet as he is also the Gombak MP at present. Amirudin has also denied speculation that he is set to vacate his state seat to make way for Tengku Zafrul, describing it as just empty talk based on the 'wild imagination' of certain individuals who were seeking to spread that narrative via social media. The PKR vice-president also said he did not want to see a repeat of the 'Kajang Move' in 2014, which culminated in the late Abdul Khalid Ibrahim resigning as the then Selangor menteri besar. FMT quoted political analyst James Chin as saying that any move to get Amirudin to vacate his seat to make way for Tengku Zafrul would damage PKR's image in the eyes of voters and grassroots members.


Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
At times, stability trumps wanting to always win, says Sabah Umno No 2
Sabah Umno deputy chief Abdul Rahman Dahlan, who is said to be keen on rebuilding ties with GRS, has clashed with state Umno chairman Bung Moktar Radin several times now. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Sabah Umno deputy chief Abdul Rahman Dahlan has made a cryptic post on 'stability' and 'wanting to always be the victor' amid speculation over the party's alliances for the upcoming Sabah election. 'There are times when stability is far more important than wanting to be seen as the victor in every clash. Choose the right approach to confrontations,' the former Kota Belud MP said in a Facebook post. Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) have announced a pact for the state election, while talks were said to be ongoing to rope Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) into the alliance. However, last week, Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin said the state chapter will not work with GRS for the polls. He added that any possible cooperation will only be considered after the outcome of the state election. GRS chairman Hajiji Noor, who is also Sabah chief minister, said the ruling state coalition has yet to decide on its alliances for the election. Last month, Hajiji said the existing alliance between GRS and PH, both of which form the state government, should be continued in the state election. Bung and his Sabah Umno deputy have clashed several times in the past few years, with Rahman said to be keen on rebuilding ties between his party and GRS. While Sabah Umno and GRS used to be allies in the state government, Bung led his party in retracting support for Hajiji as chief minister in January 2023. Sabah PH then gave Hajiji its backing to allow him to stay on as chief minister.


Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
We've lost confidence in Wong Chen, says Subang PKR No 2
Yesterday, Subang MP Wong Chen expressed fear the government led by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim would have little to show in terms of reforms at the end of its term. PETALING JAYA : A Subang PKR leader has expressed a loss of confidence in the constituency's MP, Wong Chen, and suggested he step down from the elected post if the party's struggle no longer aligns with his. Subang PKR deputy chief Wan Hasifi Amin said that Wong's statement yesterday, where he lamented the lack of reforms carried out by the unity government, was unnecessary, especially coming from a PKR MP. Wan Hasifi also claimed that the three-term MP did not attend a single divisional meeting since being elected a PKR central leadership council member in 2022, a post he lost in the party's recent elections. 'And, until now, no Subang Pakatan Harapan committee has been formed, when it could serve as a platform for cooperation among the PH components in the Subang parliamentary constituency. 'As the grassroots machinery, we in Subang PKR want to state our disappointment and loss of confidence in Wong Chen,' he said in a statement. Wan Hasifi called for Wong to be dropped as a candidate in the next general election, saying Subang PKR wanted an MP who is not distant from the grassroots and heeds the voice of the people. 'If Wong Chen feels that (the party's) struggle is no longer aligned with his, then the clear and principled move he should make is to step down (as MP) respectfully.' Yesterday, Wong announced that he was taking a two-week break from work for a family holiday, during which he will ponder his future in politics. The former PKR central leadership council member said he could not shake a deep worry that the government led by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim would have little to show in terms of institutional reforms at the end of its parliamentary term. Wong was aligned with former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli during the party's elections last month. He lost his seat on the PKR central leadership council, while Rafizi was defeated by Nurul Izzah Anwar and subsequently offered his resignation from the Cabinet. Wong was first elected an MP in 2013, when he won the contest for the Kelana Jaya seat for PKR with a 28,827-vote majority. He was then fielded to contest the Subang seat in 2018, winning by a convincing 92,353 votes before recording a bigger victory in the 2022 general election with a 115,074-vote majority.