COMMENT | The frustration over DAP becoming “MCAnised” is part of the larger disillusion that the party’s ethnic minorities and liberal base encounters: they appear to have lost the leverage power after 2018.

Their keen interest in DAP’s party election yesterday was partly a quest for a solution, but few – regardless of whether they support or oppose Lim Guan Eng – would think the election outcome could make a difference.

The “political efficacy” – citizens’ ability to influence government’s behaviour – of the non-bumiputera and liberals soared after the 2008 political tsunami but has plummeted following the 2018 regime change.

They realise and resent that they may be able to help install a new government, but they cannot get the new governments – both the first Pakatan Harapan government and the current Madani government - to deliver much on inclusion or reforms, or even just protect them from nasty attacks.

When the new governments chase after the...