KOTA KINABALU: Pakatan Harapan’s terms of cooperation cannot be dictated by others, says DAP secretary general Anthony Loke.
He said parties within Pakatan must strengthen their coalition while keeping an open mind about working with other friendly allies who share the same values politically.
Loke said this when asked about comments from leaders including former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) chairman, that he was willing to work with Pakatan but not if Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim or Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin led it.
“Pejuang is not PH. So everyone is free to say anything. We must strengthen PH.
“Our terms of cooperation cannot be dictated by others. We won't beg people to work with us,” he said after officiating the new Sabah DAP headquarters here, Saturday (June 4).
Loke added that DAP was willing to meet directly with Warisan leader Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal to discuss possible cooperation to face GE15.
“Our relationship with Warisan has gone through ups and downs since the beginning so we hope everyone will be open-minded and rational in terms of cooperation. Leaders must be magnanimous.
“Meeting, as well as possible collaborations with other political parties, must be done with mutual respect and the willingness of DAP to reach out to Warisan first must not be seen as DAP begging for collaboration,” he said.
Loke also said DAP was not going to let go of seats it won in GE14.
“Of course, every party wants more seats but these matters can be decided on during our negotiations with member parties and others who wish to work with us,” he said.
On questions about whether the national DAP approved of Sabah DAP’s move to join hands with the state Pakatan leaders in filing for a judicial claim on Sabah's rights to its entitlement for the return of 40% federal revenue from the state, he said they support the move.
“We support the legal action on this 40% claim. They (Sabah DAP) don't have to refer to us. Autonomy is there. This is an issue that is close to them and we endorse and support them,” he said.
