In a Facebook post today, Akmal shared a screenshot of Woo’s remarks on China Press’s front page.

“I’m also asking the DAP Youth chief to inform your boss (party secretary-general Loke Siew Fook): tell them to cut ties with Umno immediately, don’t just talk. If it’s just talk, it’s useless!” the Merlimau assemblyman said.

Woo made the remarks at a mid-autumn festival event yesterday, saying that cooperation between the unity government component parties exists only at the federal level, not between party youth wings.

“For example, in the Perak state government, there are no MCA Youth or Umno Youth representatives.

“So naturally, we don’t need to engage deeply. Our paths are different, our ideals are not aligned, and our philosophies are not the same,” he was quoted as saying.

Commenting on calls from DAP Youth branches to cut ties with Akmal, Woo said such a move was necessary as the Chinese community had historically supported parties like MCA and Gerakan for staying silent when faced with “conservative extremists”.

“Now, when confronted with a figure like Akmal, we must take a clear stance so that the Chinese community knows where DAP Youth stands,” the Pasir Bedamar assemblyman said.

“Our call is simple: we must cut ties with extreme conservative figures. When someone poses a threat to a multiracial society, we cannot sit back and do nothing.”

Ties between the Umno and DAP youth wings have been tense, particularly during the recent incident involving an upside-down Jalur Gemilang in Penang.

Several DAP youth leaders accused Akmal of stoking racial tensions after he proceeded with a protest outside the shop involved. Calls to cut ties with Akmal subsequently emerged.

Woo later responded in a statement, telling Akmal to also tell Batu Umno members who were cutting ties with PH in the federal territories to “not just talk about it”.

“Don’t be a hypocrite and have double standards,” he said.