The unprecedented visit by 30 DAP members of parliament to Umno headquarters for a briefing on technical and vocational education and training (TVET) hosted by Deputy Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was just an excuse.

The visit has clear political motives, with both sides getting what they need.

For DAP, the visit was meant to convey goodwill to Umno’s grassroots, sending the message that “DAP is a friend,” while strengthening ties with Umno in preparation for the upcoming Sabah and Johor state elections.

DAP hopes this “ice-breaking trip” can dispel Umno members’ doubts and help win Malay votes.

For Umno’s top leadership, hosting the DAP delegation was a way to acknowledge DAP’s strong support among non-Malay voters and to show its grassroots that DAP is a friendly partner.

Another purpose for Umno was to use this visit as a warning to MCA and MIC that DAP can easily replace them, so they had better not play tricks behind Umno’s back.

Such political visits could have been left to individual participants to interpret in their own way.

However, the political education director of DAP, Howard Lee, “went overboard” by posting a gushing message on Facebook describing Zahid’s leadership style as “warm and meticulous,” saying that he had long experienced Zahid’s “hands-on” approach.

With this high-profile visit, Umno and DAP have publicly declared themselves allies. Even if outsiders dislike it, they can only watch the drama unfold to the end.