YOURSAY | Loke appears hot favourite for DAP sec-gen’s post

 

YOURSAY | ‘He is a kinder and gentler face of DAP. His BM is impeccable.’

Loke willing to be DAP sec-gen if given mandate

The Wakandan: Mild-mannered Anthony Loke is a diplomat compared to the fiery Lim Guan Eng. In terms of getting things done, both have their own good and bad points, which entirely depends on the time and place that their attributes would be most appropriate.

However, the DAP change of guard can be a good thing to avoid being dominated by the same leadership perpetually and to allow new leaders, ideas and styles to prevail.

FellowMalaysian: Loke isn't picked to become the next DAP leader overnight as there is no shortage of able leaders capable of helming and taking the party to the next generation.

At a youthful age of 44, Loke has the zest, strength and energy to take over the party's secretary-general post, and more importantly, to propel the party to the next level of excellence and reform.

The country's economy and performance are debilitatingly slow and sluggish and while China and the US are able to achieve record-high GDP growth in the first quarter of 2021, we are struggling to achieve a positive growth figure.

Without DAP's participation in Putrajaya, it is unlikely that the country will see any meaningful improvement in its performance.

Guglu: Indeed, Loke should be given the mandate. He is a kinder and gentler face of DAP. His Bahasa Malaysia is impeccable.

Together with Hannah Yeoh and the Johor trio – Yeo Bee Yin, Teo Nie Ching, and Wong Shu Qi – they should make DAP an acceptable party to the Malays. These are the politicians I respect most in Malaysia, apart from Lee Lam Thye and Wee Ka Siong.

I never vote DAP before, but I might do it in the next election if these five politicians are elected to the central executive committee.

Please do not put token Malays such as Zairil Khir Johari, Sheikh Omar Ali, and Abdul Aziz Bari. They are riding on the popularity of DAP among the Chinese. Everybody should be elected based on merits, not race.

And lastly, move away from the Lim dynasty.

Salvage Malaysia: I agree that Loke is the best candidate to give DAP a more acceptable image.

Guan Eng is too much in your face and that has resulted in enemies easily portraying DAP as a predator party out to dominate everything. Perak DAP leader Nga Kor Ming, likewise, is too confrontational. Loke has a friendlier approach.

HangTuahPJ: @Salvage Malaysia, yes, I think Loke is the best for the position. Nga, whilst being handsome, is a bit too confrontational.

But I was thinking about the crossroads that we are at now. People are seeing the true characters of Umno, PN, PAS on how greedy, corrupt, unholy, and unethical they are. By contrast, DAP now seems to be the least greedy, unethical, or corrupt. So DAP can be a good choice for people to vote at the next general election.

Maybe, it is time to make some sacrifices. Put some non-Malays into the top positions to draw in the crowd. A Malay would be better. Someone like Rafizi Ramli (I think he is being wasted at PKR) and the likes.

Give equal opportunity to people like Loke. Maybe the two Lims should become advisers, especially Guan Eng. Just my two cents worth.

Stop unhealthy debate over party's direction, Loke tells DAP members

Justmyview: The older members who had helped to build DAP into a formidable opposition party must realise that the world is continuing to change and the same is happening in Malaysia.

For one, the Chinese share of the Malaysian population has declined and will continue to decline, meaning that it will dilute its say in the political affairs of the country.

It is time to be pragmatic and embrace a more Malaysian outlook in terms of political philosophy and not stubbornly retain its ‘Chineseness’.

This does not mean that DAP should abandon paying close attention to the rights, needs, and welfare of the Chinese, but it should do all these in a Malaysian context.

DAP can achieve more for its supporters both inside and outside of the party if it is in government, not as an opposition party (Penang is a very good example).

The only caution is that DAP leaders must be principled and strong and not be easily influenced by such insincere leaders like former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad (as has been alleged of DAP leaders in the previous Pakatan Harapan government)

Kim Quek: “While agreeing that factionalism should not be overplayed, I am more concerned with a DAP leadership that does not seem to have learned from the severe thrashing DAP received from the Chinese electorate in the Tanjung Piai by-election,” said Loke.

This is evident from a DAP leadership that still clamoured for Mahathir’s leadership after the Sheraton fiasco, a sentiment that still lingers till today when it considers Mahathir and his party Pejuang an acceptable ally - ignoring the incurable recalcitrance of Mahathir and the continuing fury of the Chinese electorate over Mahathir’s unforgivable betrayal of their trust to bring reforms to the country.

Maintaining the status quo of the DAP leadership would almost certainly result in a massive reduction of Chinese votes for Harapan through abstention in the coming election that would translate into an electoral disaster.

I, therefore, hope that there will be an injection of new blood into DAP in its coming party election to transform and rejuvenate DAP into a party that does not only have the right ideology suited for multiracial Malaysia but also possesses the courage and tenacity to pursue its political objective to its very end without wavering.

For a fuller understanding of the impact of the historical Tanjung Piai by-election, readers may read my earlier article on the subject. - Mkini