'Why is Pas making DAP its 'punching bag'?'- Anthony Loke

SHAH ALAM - DAP is questioning Pas’ act of constantly labelling the party as an enemy to Islam and made them a ‘punching bag’ in the political game.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said this in response to Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang’s speech in Johor, yesterday claiming that the DAP leadership had asked them to remove Islam from their fight as a condition to continue cooperation between the two parties previously.

"I vehemently deny this wild accusation. DAP had never asked Pas to throw Islam throughout the cooperation between the two parties whether in Barisan Alternatif (1999-2002) or Pakatan Rakyat (2008-2015).

"DAP had been consistent in its stance throughout the political cooperation with Pas that we focus on mutually agreed issues, but took an agree-to-disagree approach on issues that could not reach consensus," he said in a statement yesterday.

He explained that the main issue that DAP could not agree on was the implementation of the hudud law and his party was consistent as it was not based on the legal system enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

Loke also reminded Pas that apart from DAP, the most vocal individual who disagreed with the law was Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad when he was the fourth Prime Minister.

"Disagreeing with the implementation of hudud law does not mean that we are against the religion of Islam.

"Dr Mahathir never agreed with the implementation of hudud. So are the parties mentioned by Hadi such as MCA, MIC and Gerakan," he said.