No need to maintain ties with Akmal, S'gor and Malacca DAP Youth wings say

Summary

• Selangor and Malacca DAP Youth wings call for the party leadership to cut ties with Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh.

• Selangor DAP Youth admonishes Akmal for continuing to send out misleading statements despite being charged in court.

• Malacca DAP Youth says incendiary politicians should not be given any space in a mature political discourse.

More DAP Youth wings have called for the party to cut ties with Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, this time from Selangor and Malacca.

Accusing Akmal of being a Perikatan Nasional agent, Selangor DAP Youth said Akmal showed no remorse even after being charged in the Bukit Mertajam Magistrate’s Court, and continued issuing “misleading” statements to create public tension.

“Selangor DAP Youth calls on DAP and the national Youth leadership to decisively sever political ties with Akmal, who is clearly functioning as PN’s agent in the unity government,” it said, in a statement today.

The wing described Akmal’s frequent attempts to portray himself on social media as a “victim” of racial struggle as “hypocritical theatrics”.

“Whether it is the Jalur Gemilang issue in Penang or Johor, the authorities have already investigated. There is no question of lax enforcement as suggested by some,” it added.

The group pointed out that Akmal was instead charged under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code over a video containing extreme remarks, which allegedly pressured prosecutors to initiate charges.

“This shows his actions are serious and go beyond legal boundaries,” it claimed.

Causing fear, alarm

Yesterday, Akmal pleaded not guilty to a charge of making statements likely to cause fear or alarm to the public.

According to the charge, the accused allegedly made a statement via a social media post at 3pm on Aug 11 that could have caused public fear and alarm.

State prosecution director Nordin Ismail presented the case under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, which provides for a penalty of up to two years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Undeterred, Akmal said he would continue to fight to uphold the “dignity” of the Jalur Gemilang.

Hypocritical Akmal

Selangor DAP Youth further accused Akmal of hypocrisy - demanding harsh punishment against others while ignoring that he himself has been charged with disturbing public order.

“The judiciary, prosecution and enforcement agencies have clear legal procedures and jurisdiction. There is no need for Akmal to mislead our multiracial society,” it said.

The group also pointed to Akmal’s “double standards” for staying silent when Terengganu PAS displayed the national flag incorrectly, yet personally staging a demonstration against a hardware store owner who had already corrected the mistake and was investigated by the police.

“This proves the Malacca exco member is a PN stooge,” they claimed.

Selangor DAP Youth also rejected attempts by certain quarters to act as “middlemen” by equating the group with Akmal.

“From the start, this issue arose because Akmal deliberately stoked racial sentiments, while DAP Youth has consistently opposed gangster-style politics from the standpoint of Malaysians as a whole.

“Facts should not be twisted in the name of ‘cooling things down’ by equating criminal intimidation with a mere war of words.”

The group stressed that calls for reconciliation must recognise that this is not an ordinary quarrel but one involving a Youth chief and a state executive council member who led demonstrations, challenged the rule of law, and damaged inter-communal ties.

“Such actions must face consequences, not be left unchecked.

“We will continue to uphold the aspirations of Malaysia’s multiracial society by decisively cutting political ties with Akmal and resisting any of his actions that threaten government stability and social harmony,” it said.

Spreading hate

Malacca DAP Youth reiterated that Akmal had used a small mistake to sow the seed of hatred among Malaysians.

Backing Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s calls for the people to stop the culture of incitement, Malacca DAP Youth said any politicians who spread hatred among multiracial Malaysians should not be given a space in a mature political discourse.

“And we stress that there is no reason for Pakatan Harapan to maintain ties with someone who jeopardises national harmony.

“Hence, we urge DAP and our national Youth wing to sever all political ties with Akmal,” it added.

Other DAP Youth wings that have called for the party to cut ties with Akmal are Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kuala Lumpur, Sabah and Sarawak.

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