IT SOUNDS preposterous when I read DAP vice-chairman Teresa Kok’s statement that the multi-racial party was prevented from taking a high profile in campaigning for the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led coalition’s PKR candidate in the recent Sungai Bakap by-election.

The six-term Seputeh MP gave the impression that it was UMNO - not PKR - that advised the DAP leadership from taking a high profile in the Sungai Bakap by-election campaigns.

The partnership between UMNO and DAP in the ruling coalition has not been fully acceptable by UMNO grassroots in the country.

This was apparently to ensure that the relationship between UMNO and the DAP would not be overplayed in the polls.

If this had not happened, DAP would have organised a vigorous campaign led by its national and state leaders that could otherwise boosted a higher turnout of Chinese and to some extent Indian voters.

In fact, the way Kok argues, this would have meant that the PH-led coalition candidate had a chance to win.

Maybe what Kok says might be true or not true. She gave some oblique references to interference from UMNO to prevent DAP from fully mobilising voters especially the non-Malays.

Mounting disillusionment

While Kok puts the blame on UMNO for preventing DAP from going all out in the by-election, she, however, omits to mention the real reason for the low voter turnout among the Chinese.

She refuses to admit the fact the Chinese voters in the state constituency have become disillusioned with the ruling coalition for various reasons.

Targeted diesel subsidies, the rise in the prices of goods and services, poor water supply in the area, and the recent directive from the Education Ministry about the need for compulsory classes in the teaching of mathematics and science were among sources of frustration and disappointment among the Chinese voters.

I seriously doubt the appearance of DAP leaders during the political campaign would have wooed for more Chinese to come out to vote.

Kok should cease from wishful thinking. It is a foregone conclusion that Indians have lost faith in the ruling coalition. This explains why majority of Indian voters have moved from casting protest votes to fully supporting the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition.

An on-line daily in the country tries to give the impression backed by readers that DAP has to tone down because it is a responsible political party.

However, those who support this stand fail to realise that DAP has toned down not because it is a responsible political organisation but because its leaders have become beholden to power, positions and perks.

Toning down does not mean that DAP has to be silent when it comes to the defence of cultural and identity rights of Malaysians especially the non-Malays.

Alternatively, the silence of DAP is tell-tale sign of the party becoming a yes-man for the hegemonic politics of the ruling coalition called the Madani government.

The DAP’s metamorphosis is just not at the ideational level but grounded in its party leaders’ thirst for power, positions and perks. In this respect, the DAP’s toning down has pejorative connotations. - July 18, 2024

Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council. 

https://focusmalaysia.my/ramasamy-pans-teresa-kok-for-telling-half-truth-of-daps-low-profile-campaigning-in-sg-bakap-by-election/