DAPSY keeps mum on issue to apologise to Umno

SHAH ALAM - Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth (DAPSY) chief Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen is tight-lipped on whether the party is ready to apologise to the Umno grassroots as demanded by the Malay party’s youth wing.

However, the Bandar Kuching MP Insisted that DAP's focus was on rebuilding the country and ensuring that the unity government remained stable for the sake of all the people regardless of race, religion and demographics.

“We must understand that the people want a government that is attentive, competent, stable and functional, that will look after the interests of everyone regardless of their background and to also bring the country forward and to develop competitively in the global market.

“This includes focusing on holistic policies to bring solutions to the issues faced by the people,” he told Sinar Premium, yesterday.

Previously, the Umno youth wing has urged DAP to immediately apologise over accusations the latter made which had offended the members of the Malay party until now and to prove that the allegations that DAP was a party that was anti-Malay, anti-Islam, racist and communist-centric would not happen in the unity government.

Its chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh also said the apology was intended to soften the hearts of Umno members who questioned DAP's willingness to be friends, especially in preparing for the upcoming state elections.

He also said DAP was previously willing to meet and apologise to the Parti Gabungan Sarawak’s (GPS) leaders if they wanted to form a unity government.

Akmal’s recommendation was welcomed by Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan as the latter was of the opinion that as a party in the government, DAP should have accepted the recommendation.

“The recommendation (by Umno youth) was good. For me, DAP could apologise to Umno,” Mohamad said after attending the Umno Supreme Working Council (MKT) meeting at Menara Dato Onn, Kuala Lumpur on Thursday night.

However, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi believed that the demand for DAP to apologise and establish that the party was not anti-Malay, anti-Islam, racist, or communist-centric should be dropped.

The Deputy Prime Minister said DAP has stated its position on the matter numerous times.

Meanwhile, Kelvin agreed with Zahid that all parties must focus on how to effectively run the country.

"As said by Umno President, Zahid, the focus of the unity government now is to govern the country well and ensure that the government is stable for the sake of all parties," he said.

He also emphasised the importance of protecting the country from leaders who merely use language and sentiments to divide and distract Malaysians from the real issues.