DAP TRYING TO BREAK FREE
The party, which turns 53 today, is striving to escape the ‘permanent opposition trap’
TO have a strong and credible government, it is important that the parties in the ruling coalition are stable, disciplined and purposeful.
It is with this objective in mind that I would like to discuss some of the difficulties and challenges faced by DAP in transiting from a “permanent” opposition party to a partner in a coalition government. fire and hardship that moulded the party.
There was once no need for DAP to coordinate policies because it was in permanent opposition. They were good in opposing and exposing the Barisan Nasional government’s misrule. They were more akin to fantastic solo singers. Coming to power means DAP leaders are expected to be a in a group of harmonised orchestra, having clear and consistent policy messages which the public and Pakatan Harapan partners expect the party to be in sync on all government policy matters. through from a 20 years’ perspective as every decision we make now would have long-term consequences.
Politicians from DAP as well as Pakatan Harapan would have to learn to negotiate with coalition partners, civil servants, members of civil society and businesses on each move. We must also guide society to understand policy trade-offs and accep difficult solutions that are not necessarily perfect so that genuine change would happen to all, and be accepted by most.
Just like any other Pakatan Harapan coalition partners, DAP would never be able to rule alone. Just as we expect our partners to govern in the spirit of a genuine coalition, DAP leaders must do their bid at all levels to make the coalition work and to make decisions in the interest of Pakatan Harapan, and not just DAP’s interest.
The challenge now is to cascade that spirit to all levels and make collaboration, respect for each other and thinking of the interests of Pakatan, and not just their party’s, the default mode of operations. non-Malay champion.
Pakatan Harapan cannot outMalay Umno, out-Islam Pas, outChinese MCA, and out-Indian MIC. Racial framing would lead Pakatan to nowhere.
Therefore, DAP and Pakatan Harapan must find a narrative and vision to acknowledge that Malaysia is a divided society, and to transcend the divide and heal the nation to not allow extremist views to take hold of public discourse.
There are two popular myths in the minds of most Malaysian politicians. First, Malays are rural and, second, Malays and nonMalays are culturally different and therefore have no common interests.
Recent statistics have shown that 78 per cent of Malaysians and 70 per cent of Malays live in urban areas, though many Malays return to their hometowns in rural areas to vote. Malays are no longer rural.
A lot of surveys keep showing the same result: all communities are most concerned about jobs, pay, cost of living, opportunity for upward mobility, education for their children, dignity and safety nets. Common interests unite us.
There are a lot more things that unite us than that divide us. DAP needs to articulate these common interests and deliver them to all Malaysians as part of the Pakatan Harapan coalition government, working in tandem with its coalition partners.
Happy 53rd birthday, DAP.