DAP still the ‘lesser evil’ for Chinese voters? Najib house arrest tests its hold

• By FocusM
• 7 hours ago
• in Politics, Top

A FACEBOOK post about the fate of the DAP by a declared member of the new party Bersama has drawn attention and sparked discussion online.

The post by Betty Teh asked: “Chinese can still accept DAP after this?”

It was surely referring to the  news of the house arrest of former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak and its impact on the DAP, a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led government.

PH is facing intense online criticism over Najib’s pardon and the fact that he will serve the remainder of his jail term under house arrest.

But the answers from users were not what the Bersama party or the poster would have expected.

In a reply to the post, Peter Hcley made it clear that there are no other alternatives to the DAP for them, since with the DAP in the government, the voice of the Chinese community is still being heard.

The user also said they had hopes that the new party would tell voters what they would really do for the country, as there are still some DAP members on whom the people could count.

Lookazon Chew made a popular comment:

However bitter the pill of Najib’s pardon is, the DAP is not losing its support base.

The post garnered several responses, including from those who said it is better ‘to choose the lesser evil’ or that common sense means the pardon has ‘nothing to do with DAP.”

Tan Poh Shoon directed criticism towards the poster, indicating the post is hurtful.

For Keng Fuan Wong, it was the King exercising his prerogatives; thus this has nothing to do with DAP.

Bersama has condemned the pardoning of Najib, asking Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for answers and urging a release of the full conditions behind the pardon.

Bersama leader Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has called on Anwar and the Pakatan Harapan leadership to publicly disclose the full conditions attached to former prime minister Najib’s house arrest.

Rafizi said this was the minimum owed to the public following Najib’s conditional pardon today.

“Let ordinary Malaysians be the eyes and ears of society so that this house arrest is enforced strictly in accordance with the conditions imposed,” he said in a statement.

Najib has been granted a conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to payment of his RM50mil fine and other conditions.

Rafizi said Anwar and the PH leadership from PKR, DAP and Amanah had a responsibility to provide an explanation rather than repeatedly saying the matter was beyond their control.

“This is not about  politics but about the debt that Anwar and PH owe the people over 1MDB, especially the unnamed individuals who took great risks in carrying out their daily duties until the 1Malaysia Development Bhd issue became known to the public,” he said. — Sept 19, 2026

Loke offers to resign as Transport Minister following Pardons Board decision

Loke offers to resign as Transport Minister following Pardons Board decision


Loke said they were well aware of those out create such instability, and the DAP does not want this to happen

Updated 17 minutes ago · Published on 19 Sep 2026 6:21PM

"After three hours, we decided that I will resign as the Transport Minister," he said - September 19, 2026


TRANSPORT Minister Anthony Loke today said he will resign from his ministerial post following the Pardons Board’s decision allowing Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

"After three hours, we decided that the best move was for me to offer to resign as the Transport Minister.

"It only involves me. As for the others, they will remain in the government, as we know there are those waiting for the DAP to withdraw from the government.

"This will cause instability and maybe force a general election," he said after a three-hour CEC meeting today.

Loke said they were well aware of those out create such instability, and the DAP does not want this to happen.

He said it is up to the others if they want to resign in future, but the CEC for now does not force anyone.

"I will hand over my resignation to the prime minister soon.

"Projects that are already ongoing will continue, because the ministry won’t stop functioning," he said.

He said the 1MDB is a scandal that has affected our nation for the last 10 years or so.

“Justice must be done, and those responsible must be punished for the loss of millions. Najib must be given the due penalty.

“We respect the pardon granted by the King, and it is his right to grant house arrest.

“To date, there are still no precedents or laws for house arrest, but we respect the decision.

"However, DAP has our stance on the issue, and this is difficult for us and many Malaysians to accept what has happened," he added. - September 19, 2026

 

How Nur Hazizah learnt that faith need not divide a family

How Nur Hazizah learnt that faith need not divide a family

11 hours ago

Bernama

The 24-year-old says growing up with her Buddhist grandmother taught her respect, resilience and the meaning of support.

Nur Hazizah Indrasafri with her grandmother, Ng King Fong, whose care and support have been a constant presence throughout her life despite their different faiths. (Bernama pic)

ALOR SETAR:

Even before Nur Hazizah Indrasafri began pursuing a degree, her most important lessons had already been learnt at home.

The 24-year-old from Sintok, Kedah, was largely raised by her grandmother, Ng King Fong, after her parents separated.

Her mother’s job often required her to relocate, while her father died last year, leaving her 72-year-old grandmother as the steady presence through much of her childhood.

“She raised me from a young age. Although my mother could not always be with me, my grandmother continued to do her best to support our family, including me and my two younger siblings,” Nur Hazizah told Bernama.

That support carried her through a path she describes as more difficult than that of many of her peers, and eventually to a place in a hospitality management degree programme.

But the relationship with her grandmother has shaped more than her determination to study. Nur Hazizah is Muslim, while Ng is Buddhist – yet the difference in faith has never been treated as a divide within the family.

“I have no problem with my grandmother practising her faith, just as she has no problem when she sees me praying at home,” she said.

Ng is also mindful of her granddaughter’s religious needs, making sure that food in the home is halal.

For Nur Hazizah, growing up in that environment taught her that respect does not require people to believe the same things. What matters is giving one another room to practise those beliefs with care and understanding.

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Her grandmother’s sacrifices have also become a source of motivation as she begins the next stage of her education.

Although neither Ng nor Nur Hazizah’s mother was able to accompany her when she recently registered as a new student at Universiti Utara Malaysia, she was not entirely alone. A friend’s family stepped in to be there with her as she began university life.

It was a small gesture, but one that fitted naturally into the kind of support Nur Hazizah has known for years: family, for her, has never been defined only by circumstance or commonality.

Rather, it has been built through care and respect by the people who show up for her.