To save Malaysia, DAP must resign

 By resigning from the Cabinet, DAP can win back fence-sitters and pessimistic voters and take the wind right off its rivals’ sails.

The title above may come as a surprise to many.

After all, I am known to be a staunch DAP supporter – one who believes it is the best political party in Malaysia.

Which is why it pains me very much to write this, but politics is a strange beast with its own warp logic and rationale as well as set of rules.

Still, DAP must resign.

Stepping down from government posts would earn DAP goodwill, even from those who have grown cynical of the party.

Many DAP supporters are of the view that the party has been giving the prime minister too much leeway.

A prime minister who they feel has been pandering to the Malays, many of whom have spurned his overtures.

I disagree with such views, of course, but we cannot disregard their concerns as these supporters too would have a say in the next polls.

By resigning from the Cabinet, DAP could inspire sceptics to come out to vote.

Secondly, DAP’s resignation would push the prime minister to roll out the promised reforms, which are needed to again woo the public, including fence-sitters, back to PH’s fold.

While it might be an unkind move, the bitter pill is often the one we need to swallow.

Thirdly, with DAP out of the equation, PAS would no longer have a bogeyman or a punching bag. Nor will PAS be able to push the narrative that DAP was in control of the government where its sole aim – according to the Islamic party’s twisted imagination – was to destroy the Malays and Islam.

With DAP out of the picture, Anwar could appoint Malay MPs to the Cabinet. A Malay-dominated Cabinet would also throw a monkey wrench into PAS’s push for a similar lineup.

Such a move could also prove to be the coup de grâce to calls for a “Rumah Bangsa” and Malay-Muslim narratives that PAS and its ilk love pushing to remain relevant.

It is time to call PAS’s and Umno’s bluff. With DAP leaving the government, PAS and Umno may be forced to dance to PH’s tune.

And how does this save Malaysia?

By resigning from the Cabinet, DAP can win back fence-sitters and pessimistic voters to its fold and inspire more voters to come out to cast their ballots on D-day.

The party can take the wind right off its rivals’ sails and leave them dead in the water.

An unconventional strategy to possibly help PH secure a majority to form the next government, on its own.

Because sometimes, the end justifies the means. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.