National prominence alone
won’t ensure win in DAP
polls, says expert
USM’s Sivamurugan Pandian says delegates not only expect the candidates to align with the party’s ideology but also look at who they are aligned with.
Sivamurugan Pandian, from Universiti Sains Malaysia, said voting in DAP is now a more complex affair as delegates not only expect the candidates to align with the party’s ideology but also look at who they are aligned with.
“Previously, delegates at DAP elections would vote based on the candidates’ position on community issues and whether they uphold the party’s ideological principles,” he told FMT.
Sivamurugan said these principles include social democracy, the restoration of the Federal Constitution’s original secular framework, freedom of religion and equal economic opportunities.
“Now, they will also look at who the candidate is aligned with because delegates want a mix of members of the old guard and new leaders,” he said, adding this would ensure a combination of hardliners and moderate voices.
Last week, Sivamurugan said DAP appeared to be divided factionally between the party’s national chairman, Lim Guan Eng, and its secretary-general, Loke Siew Fook.
So far, four prominent DAP leaders have withdrawn from next month’s elections to the party’s central executive committee (CEC), namely national adviser Tan Kok Wai, national treasurer Fong Kui Lun, party veteran Phee Boon Poh, and DAP vice-chairman M Kulasegaran.
Sivamurugan said this was part of the party’s evolutionary process as it aligns itself with mainstream politics.
A party insider said Loke’s team, comprising fresher faces, is drawing support from more party members across multiple states and is expected to win.
“However, this does not mean members of the old guard will not get in. The delegates will still want established members to monitor the newer ones.
“DAP has its own way of ensuring it remains both vocal and moderate. This is our internal check and balance,” the insider told FMT.
Diversity a key challenge, says analyst
Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman, who is vying for a spot on the CEC, said a number of Malay youths who are aligned with the party’s ideology have expressed interest in joining the party.
“The election is not about having more Malays in the party’s leadership. It is about having those who really want to contribute towards the growth of the party and community.
“For me, this is more important than how many Malays we have in the party,” she told FMT.
However, Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said diversity remains a key challenge in DAP’s elections and one that the party must address.
He said that for the party to position itself as a mainstream multiracial party, it must actively work to dispel perceptions that it is Chinese-dominated.
“Chinese candidates rarely face hurdles in securing positions, but the party must focus on increasing the representation of Malay and Indian leaders,” he said.
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kt comments:
Azmi Hassan's “Chinese candidates rarely face hurdles in securing positions, ..." is not correct - hundreds will try to get a place in the CEC but only 30 will win.
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