KOTA KINABALU – The DAP Native Consultative Council (NCC) is proof that the party is not “extreme” as claimed by Pejuang chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said Sabah DAP Wanita chief Jannie Lasimbang today.
She called on the two-time prime minister to retract his statement, saying DAP has proven that it is a multiracial party, and has stood up for social justice and human rights, including for indigenous people.
“DAP leaders have not only consistently listened to the plights of the indigenous people of Malaysia, but have also assisted and strongly defended the Orang Asli of the peninsula and natives of Sabah and Sarawak.
“This, to me, is real proof of DAP’s commitment to multiracialism,” said the Kapayan assemblyman.
Lasimbang, a Kadazan, has been an indigenous rights activist even before joining politics in 2017.
DAP has established the NCC and Dayak Consultative Council (DCC), with representatives sitting at the party’s central executive committee, she added.
Lasimbang – representing NCC in the committee as a member from Sabah – said DAP is probably the only national party that has set up such councils at the highest decision-making level.
“DAP established the councils to ensure natives have a voice in the committee.
“It has raised indigenous issues in Parliament and to the government, as well as encouraged native leaders to be candidates in elections.
“It does not get more real than this, and that is why there are so many natives from Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia who are joining or turning to DAP today, making it truly multiracial.”
Dr Mahathir had recently said he does not discount the possibility of DAP and Umno teaming up despite having different political ideologies.
“I have worked with DAP... DAP is extreme sometimes, but we can work with them.
“Even if you don’t like them, you have to accept that all governments in Malaysia are multiracial,” he was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini. – The Vibes, April 8, 2021
