Loke joked that he was quite impressed by the caricature, saying “it was quite good”.

“I would like to thank them (PN supporters) for displaying my picture even though I could not attend the nomination process.

“They look like my supporters,” he quipped.

PN supporters had on Saturday displayed a caricature of Loke, who is the transport minister, making a “shush” gesture.

It is believed to have been aimed at the DAP leader’s response to critics over the party collecting donations for the Putra Heights gas pipeline fire victims.

Apart from Loke’s caricature, opposition supporters also had one featuring Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim with a distressed expression, surrounded by labels such as “tax hikes”, “subsidy removal”, “medical insurance cost hike” and “ringgit depreciation” in Malay, English and Chinese.

The caricatures prompted DAP vice-chairman Nga Kor Ming to slam PN, labelling such tactics as “inappropriate” and “immature”.

Nga said the caricatures did nothing to contribute to nation-building and instead served to divert attention from more pressing national issues.

PAS deputy election director Annuar Musa subsequently defended the caricatures of government leaders saying that no laws were violated, nor was there anything provocative about them.

On a separate issue, Loke said the party will decide on joining forces with Sabah Barisan Nasional for the state election later this year at the next central leadership meeting.

“We intend to discuss and finalise the type of cooperation (with Sabah BN).”

Last night, Sabah BN chairman Bung Moktar Radin announced that the coalition will be cooperating with Pakatan Harapan in the upcoming state polls.

Bung said the collaboration was finalised last year.

Earlier today, however, Sabah DAP denied being part of any official talks with BN representatives following Bung’s announcement.

Sabah DAP chief Phoong Jin Zhe said there have been no official discussions between his party and any political party concerning electoral cooperation.