KUALA LUMPUR: Despite calling for an apology from DAP over its past attacks, Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh maintains there is no bad blood between Umno Youth and its counterparts in the unity government coalition.
He said he would be meeting up with Pakatan Harapan youth chief Dr Kelvin Yii, who is also the DAP youth chief, to discuss future collaborations.
“I just texted him. We will be meeting up in the next one or two days to discuss how we can work together in the coming state elections,” he said.
Dr Muhamad Akmal said Umno Youth decided to make the call for an apology because the state elections would be held soon.
“If they (DAP) don’t apologise, it will give rise to uneasiness among party supporters and voters.
“This (apology) is the fastest and best way to cool down the temperature,” he said.
The elections to be held in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Negri Sembilan and Selangor will see Barisan Nasional, in which Umno is a component party, and Pakatan Harapan, whose members include DAP, in an alliance.
Umno and DAP have been political enemies for decades.
During the Umno Youth meeting on Thursday, Dr Muhamad Akmal had asked for DAP to apologise for making allegations against the party in the past.
However, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said demands for DAP to apologise to Umno for its past allegations against the party should not be brought up, as it had agreed to terms set by Umno during negotiations.
Speaking on the same issue, party deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said while there was no compulsion for DAP to apologise, doing so would allay the distrust between the two parties.“It could bring us closer because we are partners in the unity government.
“This could remove suspicion and doubt with one another once and for all,” Mohamad told reporters during a visit to the Umno general assembly media centre yesterday.
He also took note of DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke’s remarks that it was time for former foes, which are now in the unity government, to move on from being political adversaries.
“That is his opinion, but we do not want this issue to lead to cracks within the unity government,” said Mohamad.
