Nothing wrong with Umno, DAP supporting each other, says Ahmad Maslan

The Umno Supreme Council member says his call to party members to back DAP candidates is being ‘sensationalised’.

(FMT) – Umno Supreme Council member Ahmad Maslan says his call to party members to back DAP candidates in the coming state elections is being “sensationalised and misinterpreted”.

“When we are in the same team, we need to support each other,” Ahmad, who is also the deputy finance minister, told reporters after an event here today.

He said his call was aimed at encouraging Umno voters to back candidates from parties in the unity government, not just DAP.

He also said neither DAP’s nor Umno’s logos would appear on the ballot papers as only the coalition logos would be used.

“Why worry? There is no need to sensationalise my statement,” he said.

Several Umno leaders, including Umno Supreme Council member Isham Jalil and Umno Youth permanent chairman Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, have criticised Ahmad for his remarks.

Isham said Umno leaders should stop telling its grassroots to vote for DAP in the coming state elections as it could affect support for the party, while Wan Agyl said Ahmad was “way out of line” for his comments.

Umno and DAP, who have long been adversaries, are now partners in the unity government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.