DAP's principles not abandoned to woo Malays, Guan Eng tells critics

DAP's principles not abandoned to woo Malays, Guan Eng tells critics


INTERVIEW | Over the past decade or so, DAP has been embroiled in an internal debate between two factions, which have labelled each other as Hua Sha (Chinese chauvinists) and Ying Sha (English chauvinists) or the “grassroots” versus the “elites”.

Dubbed as the "Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean" debate, it has been ongoing since the 13th general election when DAP sought to shed its Chinese image to appeal to the Malay electorate.

The Hua Sha faction has argued against abandoning DAP's principles and diluting the party’s Chinese-ness in favour of Malay votes.

Secretary-general Lim Guan Eng criticised this viewpoint, stressing he preferred being “Malaysian-centric and Malaysian first”.

Focusing on a single ethnic group, he said, would be a violation of DAP's call for a “Malaysian Malaysia”.

“You cannot limit yourself to just a single core. If you do that, then I think you end up being very narrow-minded, very extremist, and on the margins.

“Elections are never won on the extreme, they are always won on the centre,” Lim told Malaysiakini.

Attract Malay voters

The former finance minister also denied that DAP had shed its principles or went out of its way to attract Malay voters.

“What principles have we abandoned? If you say that because we introduce Malay or Indian candidates, then I don't agree.

“I don’t think we have appeased (Malay voters). As I said, you must always work on the basic principles first. We don’t appease anyone.

“We have fought consistently against all undemocratic forces. I went to prison twice,” he added referring to his incarceration under the Internal Security Act in 1987 and the Sedition Act in 1998.

Lim urged critics to prioritise the growth of DAP instead, where more people would join the struggle in support of its principles.

“If they happen to be non-Chinese, why not? If they are able to deliver, why not?” he asked.

Rise up the ranks

On the allegation that Malays who join DAP rise up the ranks ahead of others, Lim pointed to the often-raised criticism that the party does not have enough Malay leaders.

“On one hand, you say they rise faster, but on the other hand, you say you only got one or two Malay leaders - so, you must find the balance. At the end of the day, we have to let the members decide.

‘They have the wisdom to choose what is best for the party because this is not chosen by us (leadership) but by members who see the necessity to reach out, expand, (and) be part of the political norm, where we are part of the mainstream (and) not part of the extreme,” he added.

Young Malay DAP leaders who have emerged in recent years include elected assemblypersons Zairil Khir Johari (Tanjong Bunga), Syerleena Abdul Rashid (Seri Delima), Jamaliah Jamaluddin (Bandar Utama), Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali (Paloh), and Edry Faizal Eddy Yusof (Dusun Tua), as well as Lim Kit Siang's political secretary Syahredzan Johan and Johor DAP publicity secretary Marina Ibrahim.

Currently, only one of the party's 42 MPs is Malay - Raub MP Tengku Zulpuri Shah.

'Let the members decide'

As he departs from his 18-year-long stint as secretary-general, Malaysiakini spoke to Lim on the new party leadership, his plans to remain in the party's central executive committee (CEC) and the implications of the ‘Lim dynasty’ on his successor.

Below are excerpts from the interview:

Do you have any message for the new leadership, especially the new secretary-general?

Lim: We will still practice the same collective leadership. We will still give the same support. At the end of the day, not one person can do everything. What is more important is that the leadership should be able to bind everyone together to make sure that they find a common cause in the party, that you have common goals, and that they feel a sense of belonging.

When you say 42 MPs remain in (the) party… not a single person jumped. There is a lot of effort behind it. We contact each and every one. When there are any issues in their area, we take the initiative to try and help them - whether in terms of food parcels or other aid. The MPs feel they have the ear of the leaders. They are close to the leaders.

Would you set a target or goal for the new secretary-general to achieve?

Lim: No. That is up to the party to decide. It is not up for me to decide.

You are stepping down as secretary-general, but you are contesting for the CEC post (in the upcoming party polls). There are those who feel you should totally step out from the election.

Lim: I will let the party members decide.

Former DAP member Hew Kuan Yew said you should not be in the CEC leadership. According to him, you might overshadow the new secretary-general if you become the chairperson (of CEC).

Lim: Everybody is entitled to their views. As I said, let time show whether these concerns are genuine or not.

Are you aiming for the post?

Lim: I said, we (will) let the members decide. I think we let the party leadership decide.

Any personal preferences for the new secretary-general?

Lim: We (will) let the members decide.

There are concerns that the Lim dynasty will overshadow the new secretary-general.

Lim: No. We definitely want the secretary-general to succeed. We want every leader to succeed. As I said, we work through collective leadership.

So, if you talk about overshadowing, then I think... I can understand what you mean because my father (Lim Kit Siang) overshadowed me throughout much of my political career.

At one time, even though I was the chief minister or finance minister, he didn’t recognise me (as me). They said, “This one is Kit Siang’s son” so I got overshadowed in that sense but as I said DAP has always operated on a collective leadership basis, so it has never been one person that (a decision) goes through. No, it has never operated that way.

That is why we have remained largely united, and we have avoided intense and divisive faction-fightings as seen in the other parties.

But you will still be in the CEC?

Lim: That is up to the members to decide.

If you manage to get into the CEC…

Lim: There is no guarantee, you know?

If... would you promise you won't be a de facto secretary-general?

Lim: No, I think each one has (their) own role to play. We will play our roles accordingly.

Do you mean, every CEC member?

Lim: Every CEC member. I think not just political positions, but each one has their role to play. I don’t deny that the secretary-general is the most powerful position - but still, we run on the basis of collective leadership.

It's not like (a) dictator(ship). It has never been the case for our party. Since 2004, it has always been stable.