The DAP will hold its national congress on 16 August where over 4,000 delegates will vote by secret ballot on a motion to decide whether the party should remain in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government until the end of the parliamentary term.
There will be many thoughts in the minds of delegates, but there are fundamental issues that need to be considered in deciding whether the party should stay in the government.
Integrity in governance
First, it is vital to reflect whether Malaysia’s coalition government – formed on 24 November 2022 following a general election that resulted in a hung parliament – was built on the principles of having red lines on issues such as corruption and governance integrity, to ensure that Anwar’s prime ministership lasts or to prevent the takeover of right-wing parties like Pas.
The coalition government’s problems are due to never having red lines on issues of integrity, and this has placed the DAP in a dilemma.
For example, the dropping of 47 corruption, criminal breach of trust, and money-laundering charges against Deputy PM Zahid Hamidi by prosecutors has created a perception among the public that the DAP’s working relationship with the ‘unity government’ is largely based on political considerations rather than integrity.
Draconian laws
The coalition government continues to maintain and deploy several colonial-era and restrictive security laws to manage dissent, despite reform pledges by Pakatan Harapan before the 2022 general election.
We still have the Sedition Act 1948, the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.
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What is obvious is that the DAP, PKR and Amanah have compromised their foundational pledges to reform some of these laws to mollify Barisan Nasional, which has just 30 seats in Parliament compared to the 82 held by Pakatan Harapan.
Has this not created a public perception that the DAP and PH as a whole have compromised a lot and, in turn, lost the trust of their core supporters?
Socioeconomic priorities
Finally, the fundamental question that delegates should reflect on is the party’s socioeconomic priorities – whether the DAP ministers in the cabinet have addressed the rights of workers, farmers and the urban poor.
If they have, what is the evidence of improvement in the lives of these communities across the country? What about the cost of living that has been detrimental to the majority of ordinary people? Has the government addressed the spike in medical insurance premiums that has affected older people?
Good governance and the common good should not be compromised.
The Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue believes that there is nothing wrong with forming coalitions after general elections due to the realities of an electoral outcome.
What it proposes is that there should be principles that should not be compromised, especially good governance, the elimination of corruption, the abolishment of draconian laws that violate the right to a just trial, and the importance of socioeconomic justice that serves the common good instead of the few well-connected.
It is hoped that the DAP delegates will keep these principles in mind as they decide whether the party should be part of the coalition government. – Malaysiakini
The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.
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