Segamat Umno deputy chief Bastien Onn said Pulai Umno chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed’s suggestion that DAP ditch the slogan reflected the view of Umno’s grassroots in both Pulai and Simpang Jeram, Astro Awani reported.

Bastien said the results of the Aug 12 state elections have shown that Malays do not want to support Umno any longer because of its political partnership with former rival DAP.

“They (Umno’s top leadership) need to be firm or else we will have problems with the Malays, who are leaning towards Perikatan Nasional, which is worrying enough,” he was quoted as saying.

He also said Umno’s top leadership, including party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, needs to take a firm stance by pushing for DAP to drop the slogan.

Yesterday, Zahid said Nur Jazlan’s recommendation was merely his personal view and does not reflect the party’s stance.

Even if there was such a request, he said, it should be made through the proper channels out of respect for coalition government partners.

DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook has said there is no need for the party to drop its “Malaysian Malaysia” slogan.

He said this is because DAP is committed to upholding the principle of Islam as the official religion of the federation, to respecting the sanctity of the Malay language, and to upholding Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.

Loke also said all component parties of the unity government had agreed not to touch on their partners’ “principles and constitution” before the formation of the unity government.