EACH party in the Unity government needs to see how it can add value to their cooperation, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Chow said this in response to a reporter’s query about the views expressed by Kluang Umno division head, Datuk Md Jais Sarday, who claimed that the relationship between Umno and DAP is detrimental to Umno which fights for the rights and interests of the Malays.
Md Jais was quoted as saying, “This cooperation has only become a ‘thorn in the flesh’ when they often insist on things that hurt the feelings of the Malays” after attending the Kluang Umno Division meeting at the Dewan Kampung Melayu in Kluang yesterday.
“If they feel the relationship does not add value to them, it is their psychology (perception). If the relationship cannot add value, then it is better not to cooperate,” said Chow after launching the book, ‘Musings by George Yeo’, at Jen Hotel, Penang, today.
Md Jais commented on the motion brought by the Kluang Umno Division in the representative meeting, which called for Umno to go along with the BN components, MCA and MIC, to face the 16th General Election (GE16).
There were voices of discontent in the Unity government when its candidate, Dr Joohari Ariffin, lost to Perikatan Nasional’s Abidin Ismail in the Sungai Bakap by-election on July 6 by a majority of 4,267 votes.
When asked about DAP’s involvement in the upcoming Nenggiri by-election in Kelantan in the event of an Umno candidate being fielded, Chow said it would be up to the national DAP to determine how it would participate in the campaign.