Chin Tong: Muda not a silver bullet, but it can be a catalyst

 

JOHOR POLLS | Pakatan Harapan's decision, particularly that of Amanah and DAP, to accommodate the youth-led Muda has raised questions amongst their grassroots over the rationale and whether the coalition is standing to lose more than they can gain from such a deal.

This was after Amanah and DAP offered Muda six seats to contest in the upcoming Johor polls, albeit with some grassroots unhappiness. Negotiations between Muda and PKR also collapsed.

Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong (above) said he neither expects Muda to emerge as a dominant force in the state polls nor was the fledgling party a silver bullet. But he believes Muda still has a role to play.

"I would say that working with Muda is important. But at the same time, it is important to recognise that Muda is not the solution to every problem.

"The role of Muda I would say is not so much as emerging as the new dominant party. I think they are the catalyst to reshape the scene," he told Malaysiakini in an interview.

Looking beyond race, religion, gender

For one, Liew said Muda is forcing all parties to recognise the importance of youth voters at a time when the voting age has been reduced from 21 to 18 and will see its first implementation in the Johor polls.

But equally important, he said, is Muda's multiethnic, multireligious, and gender-balanced approach.

"Because eventually, if it is shown to everyone that the multi-ethnic approach is the right approach, there is a huge Malay-middle ground and there is a huge reservoir of Malays and Malaysians who accept multi-ethnic politics, that will also force other parties to respond.

"I think in a way it also forces DAP to respond. Not just the DAP, it forces everyone to recognise that there is a Malay-middle ground," he said.

At present, Liew said there is a tendency for the current political parties to fall back to ethnic politics.

"I think the problem with Malaysian politics is that very easily people will go back to say Malay politics or some people will say Chinese politics while failing to recognise there is a sizeable Malay middle ground who are not aligned to Umno, not aligned to PAS, and they are swing voters," he said.

However, Liew said whether Muda and its ideals are sustainable or if it will become "just another political party" will depend on whether the party can prove itself in the state polls.

"Urban voters, in general, have certain tendencies but the real battleground is in the semi-urban seats. If Muda cannot win semi-urban seats, then they will just be another urban phenomenon.

"If they are just urban phenomena, then they just might be another party. But if they can win seats convincingly in semi-urban areas, then they will be here to stay. 

"The seats have to be something like Muar, and similar constituencies to Muar," he said, adding that the youth party faces serious challenges.

Women representation

Liew said a gender-balanced approach, particularly among Malays, was also interesting due to the disproportionate power dynamics.

"There are so many accomplished Malay women in the private sector, in the civil service, everywhere. The universities also have so many more female graduates," he said.

However, he said their representation was not reflected in the political system.

Liew described Muda as an "ally and friendly competitor".

"Friendly competitor because eventually, the DAP is also campaigning on a very similar platform.

"The DAP has always been providing space for young people, the DAP aspires to be a gender-balanced party, the DAP has aspired to be a Malaysian party. So we are in a way an ally and friendly competitor. 

"And I think it is good to have this competition so that we move everyone to a more Malaysian outlook, move everyone to respond to young voters, women voters, to move the nation to a more policy-oriented political debate rather than race and religion," he said.

Liew said Harapan, having gained prominence as the opposition in recent decades, must now rejuvenate.

"I think there is a need to create new building blocks for the next cycle," he added.

Johoreans will go to the polls on March 12. Polling day is fixed for Feb 26.

Harapan, the main opposition bloc, will see its components PKR, Amanah and DAP contesting in 20, 16 and 14 seats respectively.

They have also made way for Muda in six seats. There are a total of 56 seats in the Johor assembly.

Muda will be contesting in Tenang, Bukit Kepong, Parit Raja, Machap, Puteri Wangsa and Bukit Permai.

With the exception of Puteri Wangsa, the remaining are all Malay-majority seats with a Malay population ranging between 50 to 73 percent. - Mkini