THE MAHATHIR-DAP FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES – DID DAP EVER WITHDRAW SUPPORT FROM MAHATHIR? – THE ANSWER IS NO! YET UNTRUSTWORTHY MAHATHIR QUIETLY BACKSTABBED DAP & ITS PAKATAN ALLIES BY QUITTING AS PM – THEREBY PAVING THE WAY FOR MUHYIDDIN TO GRAB POWER
Irresponsible of Dr M to accuse DAP of plotting to remove Islam as official religion, says Loke
PETALING JAYA: It is irresponsible of former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to accuse DAP of pressuring Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim into removing Islam as the official religion of the country, says Anthony Loke.
The DAP secretary-general also described Dr Mahathir’s accusations as baseless, where the nonagenarian allegedly said DAP, with 40 parliamentary seats, is threatening Anwar into making Malaysia a secular country with no official religion.
“I sternly repeat DAP’s stance that all DAP MPs will defend the Federal Constitution, which includes respecting the position of Islam as the religion of the federation and at the same time, other religions can be practised peacefully as enshrined in Article 3(1) of the Constitution,” said Loke.
“DAP has never and will never question the position of Islam as the religion of the federation as stated in the Federal Constitution,” added Loke.
Loke said he was disappointed with Dr Mahathir’s remarks, questioning if the former premier was threatened by the 42 DAP MPs during his tenure between May 2018 and February 2020.
“Has DAP ever retracted support for him or threatened his position?” Loke asked.
Loke said since Malaysia achieved independence, the country was well known for its diverse society living peacefully.
“Did Tun forget about his vision to create a Malaysian race through Wawasan 2020? Why is he taking such a stance of being enemies with other races?” asked Loke.
Loke said DAP will never be enemies of any races and the party will continue serving the county to create a united society based on the principles of Rukun Negara.
“Dr Mahathir doesn’t have to worry. Malaysia will always remain as a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) under the unity government,” Loke added.
Dr Mahathir, in a statement on Monday (July 3), said it was unconstitutional to promote a multiracial country, as the Federal Constitution never mentioned that Malaysia was a multiracial country.
“Instead, the Constitution stressed a Malay- Malaysia,” said Dr Mahathir.
Dr Mahathir was responding to Bukit Gelugor Umno information chief Huzaidi Husin’s call for him to stop fanning racial sentiments.
Dr Mahathir then took a further swipe at the current Cabinet line-up.
“Yes, DAP only has four ministers. But within the government, there are 40 DAP MPs. If DAP retracted support, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s government would collapse.
“That is why Anwar has to follow DAP’s manifesto, specifically making multiracial Tanah Melayu and replacing the official religion of Islam with a secular country and a country without an official religion,” added Dr Mahathir. ANN
Loke to Dr M: Did DAP ever withdraw support from you?
PETALING JAYA: DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook has dismissed Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s claim that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had been “adhering to DAP’s manifesto” because of the party’s influence over the government.
Loke reminded Mahathir that he had the support of 42 MPs from DAP when Mahathir led the Pakatan Harapan government from 2018 to 2020.
Loke rejected Mahathir’s allegation earlier today that DAP wanted to make Malaysia a multi-ethnic country and replace Islam as the official religion with a secular state.
He said DAP would defend the basic principles enshrined under the constitution, including Islam’s position as religion of the federation.
Mahathir’s accusation was made in an online posting earlier today. He claimed that promotion of a multi-ethnic country went against the constitution as Malaysia was never described as a multi-ethnic nation in the Federal Constitution.
The former prime minister alleged that the “Federal Constitution emphasises the ‘Malayness’ of Malaysia”.
Loke pointed out that Malaysia has been renowned as a peaceful multiracial nation. He questioned if Mahathir had forgotten the Vision 2020 policy articulated by Mahathir in 1991 which dealt with various aspects of Malaysian life.
“Why is he willing to take a stand that is so opposed to Malaysia’s multiracial society now?” Loke said.
“DAP will not be enemies with any ethnic group. We will continue serving the country and playing our role to build a united society based on the principles of the Rukun Negara,” he added. FMT
ANN / FREE MALAYSIA TODAY
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