After Loke rubbishes 'Team B' existence, Zahid says he regrets comment

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed regret today after Anthony Loke rejected his assertion that the latter had revealed the existence of an alleged "Team B" within DAP.

New Straits Times reported the deputy prime minister saying he regretted any offence caused and withdrew the remark, emphasising it was never his intention to portray DAP as divided.

"If that offended DAP, I withdraw what I said, but it was never my intention to suggest that there are or exist two camps within the party concerned," he said.

Zahid said he agreed with Loke's response and explained that his remarks about the purported camp within DAP were intended to highlight views expressed by a small segment of the party, whose allegedly contradictory statements do not reflect DAP's official position.

"So that was merely an illustration, not a validation of the existence of teams within DAP," Zahid said.

He added that Umno leaders, including vice-president Johari Abdul Ghani and deputy president Mohamad Hasan, had also warned party members against treating dissenting views in DAP as representing the party's stance when they were not official.

Yesterday, Zahid claimed that a DAP faction with opposing views from its main leadership is behind several statements made against Najib, alluding to division within the party.

“I met their secretary-general (Loke) and asked (him) why they made that statement,” he was quoted as saying at the Umno annual general assembly, reportedly hinting that Loke had told him about the “Team B” in DAP.

‘We remain united’

Loke had earlier disputed Zahid's claim on the matter and vehemently denied holding any discussions with Zahid regarding the topic.

He affirmed that DAP members and representatives remain united as one team guided by a shared ideal and mutual motivations.

“Would I do something that stupid, from a political perspective? Even if there was a Team B, why would I tell anyone else about it, let alone a leader from another party?

“There is no Team A, Team B, or Team C within DAP. There is only one - Team DAP,” Loke said in his speech at the launch of Selangor DAP Convention in Klang today.

Loke noted that while he had previously made known his disagreement with fellow party leader Yeo Bee Yin’s remarks on former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s failed house arrest application, such disputes are not considered grounds for unrest in DAP.

“I don’t know what his intention was. I don’t know if it was a slip of the tongue or (if it was said) intentionally. But, I’d like to remind that ‘divide and rule’ (strategies) are not applicable in DAP," Loke added.

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