Teresa Kok: DAP never kept silent on crucial issues

INTERVIEW | DAP never kept silent on many prominent issues, as its critics claim, the party's deputy secretary-general Teresa Kok said.

Being known as a vocal party, DAP is now being criticised for not being critical on many prominent issues and unable to keep the federal cabinet in check when there is a policy flip-flop and promises made that are not fulfilled.

Particularly, critics have likened the DAP of today to the MCA, which was seen as docile when it was in power, together with the other BN members, up to May 2018.

"I don't think that DAP is a party that kept silent," Kok rebutted in an interview with Malaysiakini and KiniTV when questioned on this matter.

She said she felt that the critics of the DAP wanted the party to continue like an opposition state and slam (the ruling government) whenever it was unhappy with an issue.

"Of course, we still speak out (when necessary). But how do we do that? Should we do it openly, just like previously in Lynas issues where two cabinet ministers hit the headlines?

"Is this what you call voicing out for the people? No, I don't think so," said Kok, who is also primary industries minister.

"On issues that have been twisted (by others), we remained silent, but raised them in the cabinet. This is better than saying them openly in public," Kok added.

She was referring to the statement made by Entrepreneur Development Minister Mohd Redzuan Yusof against the Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry on the Lynas issue.

Redzuan had argued that the position taken on Lynas, the Australian rare-earth mining company, by Energy Minister Yeo Bee Yin was not endorsed by the cabinet.

In December 2018, the Energy Ministry said it would not accept the unlimited accumulation of waste at Lynas' rare-earth processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (photo) had downplayed the matter as 'healthy debate' between both ministers.

DAP just avoided from meddling in another minister's affair, Kok said.

"Some of the issues are being handled by another minister. There is no reason for us to voice out as we are in the same pact.

"Are you saying that I am quiet? No, I appear in many of the events related to the affairs of my ministry. My main concern is the ministry," Kok added.

DAP cautious when its rivals harp on race

She also acknowledged that DAP was cautious, particularly when its rivals harped on race, religious and royal institution issues.

This was particularly so when Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad dealt with the Johor ruler on the matter of the replacement of the state menteri besar.

"The opposition accused the Chinese in DAP of controlling the government. So, in an incident involving the ruler, if DAP constantly voices out, will this help (to resolve) the situation?" she asked.

Despite none in DAP and a few in the Pakatan Harapan coalition allies backing Mahathir openly in his exchange with the Johor ruling family, she said Mahathir has the backing of the entire cabinet.

The cabinet ministers under the Harapan administration have more real power compared with MCA and Gerakan ministers under the previous administration.

"I bumped into my predecessor. He lamented that I have the power to appoint the head of an agency and department under my portfolio. Unlike his time, these appointments, political in nature, were decided by the Prime Minister's Department," Kok said, without naming any ministry or party.

Citing the Ministry of Transport, she said the former minister, Liow Tiong Lai, had less power compared with the incumbent minister Anthony Loke, as many of the agencies parked under his ministry were transferred out.

"So, when we go into specifics, we (DAP and MCA) are not the same," she said.

In the past 11 months, some minister, who had difficulties adjusting to the steep learning curve, were criticised for their performance, causing some in the grassroots to complain that Mahathir has not provided sufficient guidance to the cabinet in his second stint as prime minister.

However, Kok said there was no autopilot in the Mahathir administration, as the prime minister made constant public appearances and spoke out on many issues.

"However, he is more relaxed (in his grip on the executive) to allow the ministers to have their say in their policies," she added.

There were times Mahathir, chairing the weekly cabinet meetings, joked about how people labelled him as a dictator, she said.

"So, he said now he would listen to what we had to say. In the event where his view was different from ours, (he allowed) the majority rule," she said.

To a question on whether she now perceived that Mahathir was not a dictator as many claimed, Kok said that depended on the situation.

"There were times he needed to make a swift decision on key issues, but was unable to discuss with the cabinet and he needed to do (decide)," she said.

"When we form a pact with different parties, sometimes (we) need to give and take and have a lot of understanding, particularly when some parties harp on religious and race issues," Kok said.

Generally, she added, there is mutual respect between Mahathir and his Harapan allies. - Mkini