PUTRAJAYA – The unity government is not a dictatorship, but a democracy where differing opinions are acceptable, said government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil on the apparent DAP-MCA feud.
“We are a democracy and a difference in views is normal. We are not dictators. Admittedly, there are differing opinions, we will work hard together for the greater good.
“The unity government candidate (for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election) will be fully backed by component parties (of the administration),” he said in the weekly post-cabinet press conference here today.
He added that the commitment was expressed by “Barisan Nasional (BN) colleagues” as well, despite MCA and MIC saying they are not keen on campaigning for a non-BN candidate.
“We will focus on the by-election and work hard. What’s important for voters is for them to see that (we will focus) not just on what the late assemblywoman fulfilled, but also Kuala Kubu Baharu’s future.”
Asked whether MCA and MIC’s possible non-cooperation could lead to bad blood between coalitions in the unity government, Fahmi briefly said: “We will work together.”
Previously, MCA announced it would not campaign in Kuala Kubu Baharu if the candidate fielded was not from BN.
There were also news reports claiming that MIC would be pulling its support, a rumour which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim rubbished.
This also prompted BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan to implore MCA and MIC to extend their assistance in the by-election.
He said this was because BN respected the honoured system where the incumbent party would be given priority to field the candidate in a by-election.
Kuala Kubu Baharu’s polling day will be on May 11, while April 27 is set for nomination.
The state seat was vacated following the death of DAP’s assemblywoman, Lee Kee Hiong, who succumbed to cancer. She had held the seat for Pakatan Harapan since 2013. – April 24, 2024