06-13-2023, 10:41 AM
![[Image: 3b341163-anthony-loke-siew-fook-fmt-090623-1.jpg]](https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/3b341163-anthony-loke-siew-fook-fmt-090623-1.jpg)
PETALING JAYA: Demands for an apology from DAP over past accusations against Umno are aimed at shoring up Malay voter support in the coming elections, according to a political analyst.
Akademi Nusantara fellow Azmi Hassan said Umno leaders such as deputy president Mohamad Hasan and Umno Youth chief Akmal Saleh were trying to demonstrate that Umno was superior to DAP.
The move was a way to convince supporters that, thanks to Umno’s superiority, it would be safe for them to vote for Pakatan Harapan candidates in the coming legislative elections in six states.
However, getting DAP to apologise “will not make much difference”, said Azmi. Instead, Umno should demonstrate that it had a stronger voice than DAP in the government.
He said it was unlikely for DAP to make a tit-for-tat demand for an apology from Umno for its own accusations.
“DAP members know very well why they need to support Umno candidates in the state elections in relation to the stability of the unity government, because the alternative is Perikatan Nasional,” Azmi told FMT.
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