KJ: DAP has discarded its street fighter posture to morph into a Madani-friendly, Malay-cordial entity

 

PERHAPS now opposition-slant Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ) summed up best the emergence of “Gen3” leaders in DAP with the “almost wiping out” of the Lim Dynasty elements post the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) election yesterday (March 16).

The ‘renegade’ UMNO member further viewed that the young leadership led by secretary-general and Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook is trying to brand the party in into the path of moderation and away from the “street fighter” image of his predecessor Lim Guan Eng’s era

“Is this a centrist political strategy or a sign that DAP is losing its original identity?” asked the former health minister and three-term Rembau MP who was expelled by UMNO on Jan 27, 2023 in a recent episode (#147) of his Keluar Sekejap podcast.

“I see this as an effort by the younger line-up comprising Loke, Nga Kor Ming and Steven Sim to recast DAP with a new, non-street fighter posture or one associated with chauvinist wing deemed as bogeyman to UMNO.”

Recall that while Guan Eng who contested as the party’s chairman fared miserably at 26th out of the top 30 elected CEC members, his deemed ‘henchmen’ – sister and Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, former vice-chairman Teresa Kok and Jelutong MP RSN Rayer – failed to defend their seats.

Towards this end, KJ foresaw DAP becoming a more moderate party which can engage in discussions with its Pakatan Harapan (PH) allies “or even UMNO behind close door” by distancing itself from “chauvinist or narrow racist issues”.

“This will enable the party to be accepted by the plural society in Malaysia … some people will say that it’s the MCA-isation of DAP but I think it’s too early to say that,” projected KJ.

“But definitely, it’s a transition from DAP during Guan Eng’s era … Guan Eng’s DNA while leading DAP very much resembled that of his father – a street fighter, no qualms to put forth issues that can hurt the feelings of the Malays especially when seen in the context of discussions having taken place during DAP events.

“The current posture is such that Steven Sim (made deputy secretary-general) is able to berpantun (recite Malay poems) or Anthony Loke who is easily accepted by the Malay community.”

As Guan Eng is relegated to the party adviser role, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo assumes DAP’s national chairmanship while Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming is made the party’s national deputy chairman.

On the overall, renowned political commentator James Chin has described yesterday’s (March 17) CEC election outcome as “a major victory” for Loke with his call for significant reforms and reset.

“While many delegates had likely made up their minds before his speech, it reinforced their confidence in the choices they’d already made,” the inaugural director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania shared his initial thoughts of the polls on X.

“A clear generational shift was evident – most of the top vote recipients joined DAP after 2008 and 2018 – marking a new wave of leadership so-called 3G.” – Focus Malaysia