Former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming says DAP’s leadership must develop a clear and convincing narrative for voters if the party is to give some of its seats to Barisan Nasional in the next general election, due in 2027. - Social media pic, November 24, 2024
DAP grassroots can accept minimal seat ‘donations’ to Umno but not MCA, MIC: Kian Ming
More ‘tolerance’ of idea that Pakatan Harapan needs Umno to form federal, some state governments, said the ex-MP
R. Dineskumar
Updated 3 hours ago
24 November, 2024
9:00 PM MYT
GEORGE TOWN — DAP’s grassroots are more likely to accept a minimal number of seat concessions to Barisan Nasional (BN) – but only to Umno and not MCA and MIC – should there be requests for it to do so in the next general election (GE16), a former MP from the party said.
Ex-Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming – who is now a pro vice-chancellor for external engagements at Taylor’s University – said this is because of the current understanding and working relationship where by Pakatan Harapan needs Umno to form the unity government.
“The grassroots would have a greater tolerance for the argument that PH needs Umno to form the next federal government and the government in some states such as Pahang, Perak, Johor and Melaka.
“The grassroots will find it much harder to accept seats being given to MCA or MIC given that these parties are seen as more direct rivals to DAP, and the utility of these parties to form state or the federal governments is limited,” he told Scoop.
Ong’s comments on hesitancy to “donate seats” to MCA and MIC echoed the views of several Penang DAP grassroots leaders who told Scoop they strongly opposed any move for the party to surrender its seats to BN in GE16, particularly to MCA and MIC.
Grassroots leaders such as Farid Maulud, a committee member of Penang DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY), and R. Ganeson, the chairman of the Happy Valley DAP branch in Penang said that doing so risks alienating voters and courting backlash from party members.
Both of them said that donating seats to these BN’s minority parties would infuriate party members who have joined DAP, as well as voters who chose DAP. Additionally, Farid said that MCA and MIC should not be given seats given their weak presence on the ground.
Commenting on the possible backlash, Ong said the extent to which the party could handle it depends on the timing of GE16 and the party’ next state and national-level conventions and internal elections.
DAP’s next central executive committee (CEC) elections will be held in March 2025, while state DAP elections would be held before the end of 2027. The party observes a three-year term for its office-bearers.
‘’Since it is likely that GE16 will be held before the end of 2027, there is some flexibility for the DAP’s state and national leaders to manage this backlash if any seat concessions were made to the BN.
“But if the concessions made are too big, there will be a backlash against the leaders in the states where these concessions are made,” warned the former lawmaker.
In state elections in August last year, DAP ceded a seat – the Dusun Tua seat – in Selangor, to Umno under a pact. Ong revealed that the decision was not taken positively by grassroots members in Hulu Langat, claiming that local DAP leaders there were reluctant to campaign for the Umno candidate.
Of additional importance is the right narrative for DAP’s leadership to present to voters in GE16 if the party and PH are to cooperate with BN in an electoral alliance, Ong added.
The academic questioned the policy objectives that both DAP and PH want to achieve, especially in the area of institutional reforms, if they are to cooperate with BN and Umno to form the next federal government.
“Right now, it seems to me that the BN-Umno agenda and practices have influenced PH more than the latter’s influence on BN-Umno in the area of institutional reform.
“There is no point trading seats if the policy outcomes are the same as before, meaning business as usual without any significant institutional and political reforms,” he added. – November 24, 2024
DAP grassroots can accept minimal seat ‘donations’ to Umno but not MCA, MIC: Kian Ming
More ‘tolerance’ of idea that Pakatan Harapan needs Umno to form federal, some state governments, said the ex-MP
R. Dineskumar
Updated 3 hours ago
24 November, 2024
9:00 PM MYT
GEORGE TOWN — DAP’s grassroots are more likely to accept a minimal number of seat concessions to Barisan Nasional (BN) – but only to Umno and not MCA and MIC – should there be requests for it to do so in the next general election (GE16), a former MP from the party said.
Ex-Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming – who is now a pro vice-chancellor for external engagements at Taylor’s University – said this is because of the current understanding and working relationship where by Pakatan Harapan needs Umno to form the unity government.
“The grassroots would have a greater tolerance for the argument that PH needs Umno to form the next federal government and the government in some states such as Pahang, Perak, Johor and Melaka.
“The grassroots will find it much harder to accept seats being given to MCA or MIC given that these parties are seen as more direct rivals to DAP, and the utility of these parties to form state or the federal governments is limited,” he told Scoop.
Ong’s comments on hesitancy to “donate seats” to MCA and MIC echoed the views of several Penang DAP grassroots leaders who told Scoop they strongly opposed any move for the party to surrender its seats to BN in GE16, particularly to MCA and MIC.
Grassroots leaders such as Farid Maulud, a committee member of Penang DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY), and R. Ganeson, the chairman of the Happy Valley DAP branch in Penang said that doing so risks alienating voters and courting backlash from party members.
Both of them said that donating seats to these BN’s minority parties would infuriate party members who have joined DAP, as well as voters who chose DAP. Additionally, Farid said that MCA and MIC should not be given seats given their weak presence on the ground.
Commenting on the possible backlash, Ong said the extent to which the party could handle it depends on the timing of GE16 and the party’ next state and national-level conventions and internal elections.
DAP’s next central executive committee (CEC) elections will be held in March 2025, while state DAP elections would be held before the end of 2027. The party observes a three-year term for its office-bearers.
‘’Since it is likely that GE16 will be held before the end of 2027, there is some flexibility for the DAP’s state and national leaders to manage this backlash if any seat concessions were made to the BN.
“But if the concessions made are too big, there will be a backlash against the leaders in the states where these concessions are made,” warned the former lawmaker.
In state elections in August last year, DAP ceded a seat – the Dusun Tua seat – in Selangor, to Umno under a pact. Ong revealed that the decision was not taken positively by grassroots members in Hulu Langat, claiming that local DAP leaders there were reluctant to campaign for the Umno candidate.
Of additional importance is the right narrative for DAP’s leadership to present to voters in GE16 if the party and PH are to cooperate with BN in an electoral alliance, Ong added.
The academic questioned the policy objectives that both DAP and PH want to achieve, especially in the area of institutional reforms, if they are to cooperate with BN and Umno to form the next federal government.
“Right now, it seems to me that the BN-Umno agenda and practices have influenced PH more than the latter’s influence on BN-Umno in the area of institutional reform.
“There is no point trading seats if the policy outcomes are the same as before, meaning business as usual without any significant institutional and political reforms,” he added. – November 24, 2024
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kt remarks:
DAP will polish and carry UMNO's gulis but will show no mercy to MCA and MIC 😁😂😆
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