COMMENT | How to salvage DAP's political fortunes?

COMMENT | From the looks of it, things don’t look great for DAP and Pakatan Harapan as a whole in the 16th general election.

As for DAP, the amount of subservience they showed to keep Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in power, while the latter panders to the right-wing forces hell-bent on making a fool out of the Tambun MP, baffles me.

As it is, we may see another hung Parliament following GE16. The political landscape in Peninsular Malaysia has become so fragmented that no analyst or pundit would dare put their foot down and say that this or that party would win hands down.

Now, why should I give suggestions on how DAP could salvage itself? Frankly, it is due to sentimental values.

Growing up in a semi-rural area in Kedah, my family always looked to DAP as the voice of reason during Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s first prime ministership.

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang and the late Karpal Singh were the voices of courage who dared to take on Mahathir despite his autocratic tendencies, making the duo legendary to people like me, who believed Malaysia has more to offer its people if we could only get rid of its self-serving politicians and replace them with the right people.

And that’s why I still believe that many within DAP’s rank-and-file want to make things right, in line with its founding ideals, but are unable to do so for the time being.

So, here are my suggestions, as follows:

Slash the number of candidates

What I mean is simply this: field a bare minimum number of candidates in GE16, be it for the Dewan Rakyat or state assemblies.

For example, if you can only identify 10 safe parliamentary seats (hopefully, there are still some left), then nominate candidates for those seats and pray to providence that you can win at least half of them.

Why this suggestion? Very simple. To minimise the party’s embarrassment when voters punish them at the ballot box.

Initially, I wanted to suggest that DAP sit out GE16 altogether, but after further thought, a minimum level of representation is needed to ensure the party is kept abreast of happenings in the august house.

And we also need some opposition members (yes, I am expecting DAP to head this way) to sit in the parliamentary special select committees to scrutinise bills.

The same goes for state assemblies. Just nominate candidates for safe seats and pray for the best.

Being in the opposition would allow DAP time to do some soul-searching and reconnect with its grassroots, which it had long abandoned after tasting federal power.

It will also help the party reassess ties with its allies, which brings me to my next point.

Leave Harapan, or ditch PKR

PKR is now a liability for the entire Harapan coalition, and we can thank the PKR president for this.

DAP leaders have stood by Anwar since 1998, rain or shine, only to get a raw deal despite having the power to make or break the coalition government.

While DAP did its best to keep the coalition government intact, to the extent of not only embarrassing itself but also alienating its voter base, Anwar took the party’s sacrifice for granted and did his best to squander it.

Plus, ditching PKR would also help DAP find new allies that are more in tune with its progressive principles and perhaps be part of a new coalition that is truly committed to taking Malaysia forward.

And we desperately need such leadership and new ideas as the geopolitical scenario has changed dramatically, and we need leaders who can prepare the country for present and future challenges.

Loke must go

Removing Anthony Loke from the secretary-general post is a no-brainer, and there is little need for further elaboration.

But in addition to Loke, all DAP leaders holding cabinet portfolios and state exco posts should also be removed.

Let’s be blunt here. While Loke should take responsibility for DAP’s current predicament, the party’s ministers and excos are equally guilty of throwing mud at the progressive forces that elevated them to power.

Following their departure, reorganise the party from top to bottom, go back to its founding roots, and move forward.

Now, I have given some ideas on how DAP could not only salvage itself but also become stronger for the 17th general election.

The question is, would the party listen? I doubt it.

G VINOD is a member of the Malaysiakini team.

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