'Lu siapa?' DAP's Loke doubles down on Akmal as anger grows in Umno

DAP strongman Anthony Loke has lashed out at Dr Akmal Saleh, saying the actions of the Umno Youth chief in recent weeks are the result of politics "heavily influenced by religion", remarks likely to fuel growing impatience among grassroots Umno members over what they see as DAP's upper hand in government.

"When politics is heavily influenced by religion, or when racial politics is strong, there will always be such people," the DAP secretary-general said during an interview with Chinese-language podcast, BBK Network, over the weekend.

The host then asked whether DAP, as the "lion", would prefer not to "bark at the dogs".

Loke replied that as top DAP leader, he was beneath Akmal's level to respond to his claims on controversies such as KK Mart's "Allah socks", the upside-down flag, and Selangor's pet-friendly mall.

He said the Chinese community, as equal Malaysian citizens, have the right to reject Akmal if he questions their loyalty to the country.

"You should push back. Who are you to question my loyalty? Lu siapa? (Who are you)?" said Loke, quoting Melaka DAP chief Khoo Poay Tiong's recent speech attacking Akmal.

"Why let one person hold you hostage?"

'Say it in Malay'

In response to Loke's comments, prominent whistleblower Albert Tei questioned why the DAP leader only showed courage to speak out against Akmal when addressing a Chinese-speaking audience.

"He only dares to speak about this in Chinese to display his authority and bravery to the Chinese community," Tei said on "Reformati", a YouTube channel he recently created, where he speaks out against ruling politicians while wearing the orange lock-up uniform of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Last week, Tei, the businessman behind several high-profile corruption exposés including the recent graft scandal in the Prime Minister's Office, filed a civil suit against MACC for forcing him to wear the orange shirt before he was charged or convicted.

Tei today challenged Loke to repeat his remarks against Akmal in Malay.

"Say it in Malay, about his instruction to the Chinese community on how to respond to Akmal Saleh," he added.

Growing anger in Umno

Video clips from Loke's interview are circulating at a time of high tension between Umno and DAP leaders, with top Umno leaders taking pains to calm growing anger at the ongoing Umno general assembly.

Akmal has slammed DAP leaders for celebrating two recent court setbacks suffered by Najib Razak, whose prison term was extended by another 15 years on Dec 26 following a second conviction, days after a separate court rejected a request by former Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, to allow the former Umno president to serve the remainder of his jail term under house arrest.

Top Umno leaders, including its president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, have criticised Akmal for attacking DAP.

While Akmal appears to have backtracked from his earlier indirect threat to relinquish his Umno Youth post, the Melaka state assemblyman today doubled down against DAP by announcing his resignation as the state's exco member.

He told Umno delegates that it was because he would not work with DAP, which is also part of the Umno-led state government.

"To me, positions in government are not important. What is more important is dignity, principles, and the voice of the grassroots.

"To those who ask 'lu siapa?' (who are you?), I say this: 'I have dignity, do you have dignity or not?'" he told the Umno Youth general assembly today.

Akmal said his exit from the Melaka state government was so he could "fight DAP to the end".

"I am resigning from my position as an exco member to fight DAP to the end."