Sarawak DAP Youth today urged those attempting to play the peacemaker in DAP’s spat with Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh over the upside-down Jalur Gemilang gaffe to differentiate between right and wrong.
In a statement, it said Akmal had continuously gone overboard, without basis, while the party, on the other hand, had raised concerns and upheld justice.
“To label both parties as culprits is wrong,” it said.
The wing gave the example of a situation involving an arsonist and a person who lodged a report against him, only to be accused of sowing hatred, saying this would be unreasonable.
“It is therefore unfair to lump Akmal and DAP Youth together,” it said.
While Sarawak DAP Youth did not identify anyone in particular, its statement came two days after a DAP central executive committee member urged parties not to be distracted by the tiff over the upside-down Jalur Gemilang but to focus on more pressing matters instead.
Banting assemblyman V Papparaidu said that parties in the government, even Umno, were no longer in the opposition and should focus on economic growth and other national matters.
He added that friction in the unity coalition would not augur well with the Sabah state election just around the corner and the next general election not too far away.
Papparaidu also said that “no one should attempt to seek cheap publicity by highlighting the flag issue”.
Akmal is under investigation for sedition and criminal intimidation over a video he posted related to the shop owner in Penang who accidentally hung the Jalur Gemilang upside down.
Several DAP Youth chapters have called for the party to sever ties with Akmal, including Sarawak DAP Youth.
