Loke’s thick-skin comment is based on known facts 

ANDREW ONG

The DAP’s central executive committee (CEC) member Vincent Wu Him Ven said 
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke’s remark about Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau having thick skin was a subjective judgement based on known facts. 

“Gerakan and Lau have been repeatedly asked to leave by Pas but continue to stubbornly stay.

“If this isn’t thick-skinned, what is?” he asked, reported Oriental Daily.

Wu said that during the 2023 Sungai Dua state elections, although Lau was asked to leave a ceramah led by Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang in Penang, he did not leave PN, which was truly disgraceful for Gerakan. 

He added that Penang Pas Youth later requested Lau’s resignation as PN’s Penang chairman and recently, Gerakan was also asked to leave Perikatan Nasional due to dissatisfaction from Pas, but Gerakan still didn’t comply.

Recently Loke said he isn’t as thick-skinned as Gerakan and won’t campaign unless he was invited. 

Loke made this remark when asked why DAP didn’t join Barisan Nasional (BN) in campaigning for the Nenggiri by-election.

Recently, disagreements have arisen between Pas and Gerakan leaders over the issue of vernacular schools accepting donations from a brewery.

Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong said that Gerakan would not hesitate to exit PN if its member parties persist in promoting religious extremism and violating the rights of non-Muslims.

In response, Pas vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar Abdullah reportedly suggested that Gerakan was welcome to leave PN if they wished.

During the Guan Di Temple’s jubilee celebration from July 29 to August 2, the Kuala Terengganu City Council banned female singers from performing.

Lau claimed that the Kuala Terengganu City Council’s (KTCC) ban on female singers does not apply to non-Muslims. He added that he had sought clarification from Terengganu executive councillor Datuk Wan Sukairi Wan Abdullah.

However, Lau’s remarks were later denied by a Pas executive councillor, who stated that female singers were prohibited from performing in open spaces to avoid potential exposure to passing Muslim men.