KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 — UMNO supreme council member and information director Datuk Lokman Noor Adam has warned that persistent clashes between UMNO Youth and DAP are damaging the Madani government while bolstering the opposition.
He pointed to UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Salleh, who has emerged as a “hero” among many Malay voters after defending the use of the word “Allah” in the socks controversy. According to Lokman, DAP and MCA’s confrontational responses handed Akmal an unexpected advantage and gave the opposition fresh ammunition.
“The government keeps scoring own goals,” he said, stressing that the same pattern repeated itself in the recent Jalur Gemilang issue, where DAP’s quick reactions triggered unnecessary quarrels and messy headlines.
Akmal-DAP clash
Lokman cautioned that every clash only strengthens Akmal’s standing while making Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration appear weak and divided. “The real winners are the opposition, whose politics thrives on race and religion. UMNO Youth and DAP are doing their heavy lifting,” he added.
He warned that the ongoing disputes risk alienating both Malay and non-Malay voters — pushing Malays towards the opposition while eroding UMNO’s support among non-Malays. If unchecked, Lokman said, this could make it “impossible” for the electorate to continue backing the Madani government.
“The people expect matured leadership, not childish brawls. If UMNO Youth and DAP keep playing tug-of-war, the rope will snap, and this government will collapse,” he said.
