Reinvention alone won’t fix DAP’s structural woes, says Ramasamy

 Ex-DAP veteran says the party gradually 'succumbed to the dictates of power, positions and perks', turning from a firebrand opposition party into a meek partner in state and federal governments.

P Ramasamy said multiracialism in DAP ‘has little or no meaning’ and serves only as a convenient way for the party to differentiate itself from the country’s monoethnic parties.

PETALING JAYA:

Former DAP veteran P Ramasamy says the party is unlikely to reinvent itself as a truly multiracial political force, citing the enduring influence of race and religion in Malaysian politics.

Former DAP leader Ong Kian Ming said yesterday that the party must either undergo renewal to gain wider appeal or double down on its traditional Chinese support base if its support continues to fall in the next general election.

Ong, a former Bangi MP, said DAP’s main focus should be on retaining as much non-Malay support as possible, and that its past goal of wooing more Malays was no longer as urgent.

However, Ramasamy, who is now Urimai chairman, said multiracialism in DAP had “little or no meaning” and served only as a convenient way for the party to differentiate itself from the country’s monoethnic parties.

Ramasamy said DAP historically drew its strength from Chinese support, positioning itself as an alternative to MCA and Gerakan.

“Doubling down on the Chinese base is without meaning or substance, as the party is already identified as a Chinese party despite having a sprinkling of Malays and Indians.

“These two groups have no real power in DAP, as they are mere window dressing for the party,” he said in a statement.

He also said that reinventing the party and refocusing on its Chinese base were not mutually exclusive.

“They are inextricably related because DAP cannot reinvent itself without first establishing a strong base in the Chinese community. The problems facing DAP are the same as those faced by MCA, Gerakan and MIC about two decades ago,” he said.

Power, positions, perks

Ramasamy said the party had gradually “succumbed to the dictates of power, positions and perks” or the “3Ps”, turning from a firebrand opposition party into a meek partner in state and federal governments.

“It was this transformation that made it structurally difficult for the party to champion the rights of the non-Malays, particularly the Chinese community,” he said.

He claimed it was only a matter of time before DAP’s role shifted from initiating government policies to merely explaining and defending them to its non-Malay electorate, particularly Chinese voters.

“Once, DAP leaders blamed MCA, MIC and Gerakan for being subservient to Umno within Barisan Nasional. Unfortunately, today the same subservience is exhibited by DAP leaders towards the Malay leadership in the government.

“Its problems are structural and deep-seated, rooted in the party’s reduction to a meaningless role as a result of its subordination to the Malay hegemonic forces within the Pakatan Harapan-led political coalition,” he said.

Ramasamy also said DAP leaders might view the party’s poor showing in Sabah as an aberration unlikely to be repeated in Johor, but argued that its performance there indicated deeper structural problems rather than a one-off setback. - FMT