Tunku Aziz - Gentleman, Hee Yit Foong or Hasan Ali, it won't stop DAP or Pakatan

DAP does not stand alone in Opposition politics in the country. It is part and parcel of a Malay-dominated Pakatan Rakyat where PAS and PKR are also members. DAP works with PAS and PKR to ensure that the two-party system in the country become a reality.

Tunku Aziz Abdul Ibrahim joined the Democratic Action Party (DAP) in August 2008, citing shared "values and ideals" with the party.  His many anti-corruption initiatives made him a popular figure locally and internationally. He was appointed national vice-chairman of DAP and in July 2009 he was made a senator in the Dewan Negara, representing the state of Penang.

Go like a gentleman

In May 2012, Tunku Aziz broke the rank when he spoke out against the Bersih 3.0 rally in public citing that the event encouraged Malaysians to break the law. He also criticised rally organisers for allowing the opposition coalition to "hijack" its agenda. He later indicated his desire to resign from the party, citing irreconcilable differences

With due respect to Tunku, if he decides to leave the party he had chosen he should go like a gentleman to reflect his personality as a statesman.  Leave thoughtfully but in a magnanimous manner as a patrician. Seeking space in the main media to denounce DAP after enjoying the “fruits” in the party does not reflect well on Tunku. It has actually hurt him more than any personality in DAP.

His public tirade and personal accusations on DAP is uncalled-for.

In partisan politics one cannot try to be a righteous person who chooses not to toe collective party decision. It was on this premise that Tunku was rightly rebuked over the Bersih 3.0 issue by the party secretary-general for not toeing party decision and making his own opinion heard in public.  This sort of reproach, in fact, is nothing unusual in partisan politics.

Hitting brick walls and stone faces

A politician who cannot accept criticism might as well leave politics.  Politics is not a profession for those who are timorous and sensitive to criticism. Politics is a game for the tough minds. To seasoned politicians criticism becomes a matter of words hitting brick walls and stone faces. They do not easily succumb to reproach or for that matter decide to quit easily.

Without this inherent stamina to deflect criticism with a smile one should not join politics. An aristocrat, just like an intellectual, more often than not does not make good politician in some democracies. They customarily expect unequivocal respect from the people thinking that they are a notch above others and just detest the idea of being disparaged.

An intellectual, alas, lives in his perfectionistic world when politics cannot be an art of perfection in the eyes of the ordinary people.

Tunku is probably one of the many intellectuals who have contributed to the scholarly world. He has written and expressed himself well internationally.  But to the ordinary people out there he is still a stranger in politics. He may fit well in the academia with his lofty philosophies. His thoughts and ideas are worth debating in academic seminars but he cannot reach the majority grassroots whose hopes in life are mundane things such as food on the table, decent education, jobs and shelter.

Cordiality displayed by DAP

However, since Tunku personally decided to join politics and chose DAP as his apotheosis platform he should now not be apologetic. His decision then must be based on his intellectual epitomes and discretions without being coaxed or coerced by anyone with lesser wits than him.

Tunku being a Malay and highly intellectual was appointed vice-chairman and the first DAP nominated senator from Penang. No senior DAP members exhibited any grouse against these appointments though Tunku was very much junior in terms of party membership than many others who are equally intellectual. Such was the cordiality displayed by DAP members when accepting Tunku into their fold.

Tunku should at least be indebted to party members for being appointed to such lofty positions by DAP. Being a very cultured person, Tunku should have shown some respect to those who epitomised him to that prestige in the party. He was not at any time rejected by any DAP members. If Tunku decides to leave the party now blame not DAP but himself.

If Tunku feels that it was a wrong move on his self to join politics, and for that matter DAP, then his integrity as an intellectual could be quizzed. He must have then made those decisions based on his emotional quotient and not his intellectual acumen. Having just a minor tiff with a DAP leader cannot be a judicious reason for him to leave the party, as DAP is bigger than any single leader found in the party.

Does not reflect well on him

Why the sudden hate for DAP now after being in the party for four years and given all the privileges to hold a high party post and been appointed a Senator? This emotional reaction by an erudite Tunku does not reflect well on him.

His criticism of Bersih 3.0 protest held late April did draw some flak from party members as such an aversion is a norm in any other political organisations. But breaking rank may reflect badly on a political party.  According to political observers, Tunku’s criticism has been found wanting and should not have been done too overtly.

Nevertheless, in Tunku’s case, no disciplinary action was taken against him.

If political wisdom had prevailed in him he could have at least discussed his displeasure over the Bersih 3.0 issue within the party before making any public statement. Still, Tunku was given the respite to express his opinions freely and DAP did not take any disciplinary action against him. But if any remarks made by DAP leaders that Tunku should have toed the line had offended him, he cannot become a worthy politician.

Politics is for those with a tough mind. Those with a weak mind or are too emotive has no place in politics. Those who want to be too idealistic or too rational in their approach cannot survive the usual robust and often unfair playoffs in politics.

Many intellectuals who have been too idealistic in their approach to politics have failed as the rough- and-tumble in politics is not their cup of tea.

He was never a politician

Tunku may be an intellectual but most political observers describe him as more of an arm-chair politician. He suits more to be part of the think-tank of a political party but not the down-to-earth politics pertaining to the needs of the grassroots. To the grassroots he was never a politician.

His ideals expressed in many of his intellectual discourse – spoken and written - suit more for the intellectuals who cradle lofty ideals in life but most of which cannot be put into practice. Politics to the grassroots is not a sophisticated ideology. It is more of the ordinary people’s hopes and aspirations for a better life. For this reason Tunku does not gel as a politician.

Lofty ideas that are of seminar substance will find hard to trickle down into the political realm of the ordinary people. It is for this reason that not many intellectuals have made it in politics.  Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter of the US were not intellectuals but they were able to make it in politics. They were able to immerse to the level of the people and this made them popular.

Unfortunately, Tunku, the DAP vice-chairperson who was reported to have resigned his post as DAP vice-chairman over issues stemming from his criticism of the Bersih 3.0 protest, has been found not up to scratch in politics.

Many other Malay intellectuals in DAP

When Tunku decided to join DAP the aura was on a different note. As a Malay he was looked down with contempt by DAP adversaries especially those in UMNO, but he was well received by DAP members. It was a kind of boost for DAP to have Tunku in its fold at the beginning. Later on, this euphoria faded away after many other prominent Malays and former UMNO members joined DAP. Presently there are many other Malay intellectuals in DAP.

When DAP sees Tunku as more of an arm-chair politician the other prominent Malays who have come into its fold are more realistic and progressive. They are more able to reach the grassroots to explain the reality of Malaysian politics today – specifically the need for a two-party system. These Malays in DAP see the party as a platform that could bring social justice to all Malaysians.

Apparently, Tunku cannot last in partisan politics. He has succumbed to the pressure a politician must face that requires the emotional and mental forte to bear up with all the rigours of such a life. Politicians must live by those standards or else just quit.

DAP’s image still strong

There are limits in partisan politics. Of paramount importance is one’s adherence to party policy. Party leaders and members may have their opinions but ultimately it is collective party decision that prevails. If Tunku cannot subscribe to this basic principle he should not get involved in partisan politics. His role in politics thus has left much to be desired.

Tunku’s decision to quit the party, after a brief four years as a member will not cause any dent to DAP's public image. This is only a minor hiccup for the party. DAP’s image is bigger than any single individual in the party.

The quest by the people for a two-party system for the country will drown all the minor hiccups in both coalitions leading to the 13^th general election. Only the major issues will determine the outcome of the next general election.

As for the Opposition, “Tunku’s departure from DAP will not dent DAP’s or Pakatan’s hope of forming the next government,” said a political analysis from a local university.

Malaysia Chronicle