The withering away of
socialism in DAP
Socialist ideals, once the driving force behind DAP, now appear to be mere relics of the past, seldom invoked in contemporary party discourse.
From Kua Kia Soong
As anticipated, DAP’s latest internal elections have been marked by intense power struggles and intra-party factionalism, overshadowing substantive policy discussions.
Socialist ideals, once the driving force behind DAP, now appear to be mere relics of the past, seldom invoked in contemporary party discourse.
This shift is particularly alarming given the current global political climate. As liberal democracy faces increasing scepticism worldwide, socialism has resurged as a viable alternative, championed by movements advocating economic fairness and social justice.
From Latin America to Europe, socialist policies are gaining traction as a response to growing economic inequalities and corporate excesses. Yet, at a time when socialism is regaining legitimacy, DAP appears to be retreating from it, moving towards a centrist, pragmatic approach that prioritises electoral viability over ideological consistency.
The party used to champion policies that prioritised social justice, equality, and economic fairness. That was how it could attract people like Fan Yew Teng, Lee Ban Chen and myself.
Fan’s early writings showed commitment to socialist principles. Lee, too, showed that same commitment in his speeches and writings. I drafted the party’s “25 years of struggle” and “Tanjong Declaration” in which the commitment to socialism is clear.
From these writings, we can see that the party made an unequivocal commitment to these socialist ideals in its formative years. However, the party’s recent internal politics suggest a different trajectory – one dominated by factional power struggles rather than policy debates.
The glaring absence of socialist discourse in these recent proceedings raises questions about DAP’s ideological integrity and its relevance to modern Malaysia.
The Setapak Declaration 1967
In its early years, DAP was unequivocal in its socialist vision. The Setapak Declaration of 1967 declared an “irrevocable commitment to the ideal of a free, democratic, and socialist Malaysia, based on the principles of equality of all ethnic communities, social and economic justice, and founded on the institutions of parliamentary democracy”.
The party’s policies consistently reflected these aspirations, advocating for labour rights, equitable wealth distribution, and social welfare programmes to uplift marginalised communities.
DAP’s commitment to socialism was further solidified when, on Oct 10, 1967, the party joined Socialist International, aligning itself with global movements dedicated to democratic socialism. These affiliations demonstrated that the party was not merely a political entity seeking electoral success, but a movement committed to systemic social change.
Fast forward to 1991, the Tanjong Declaration reaffirmed this commitment. It stated the following:
“DAP is committed to the struggle for a free and democratic socialist Malaysia … a social order in which there can be free development of the human personality within the community, just distribution of the fruits of our labour, where equality and social justice is the norm and where there is dignity and value placed on work … the opposition to exploitation and privileges of those controlling economic and political power.”
These illustrated the party’s aspiration for a Malaysia where wealth and power are not concentrated in the hands of the elite but equitably shared among its people.
The need for a socialist revival
The new leadership of DAP must revive its commitment to democratic socialism – a vision that resonates with the working class, marginalised communities, and progressive Malaysians seeking a just society. If the party continues to abandon its socialist roots, it risks becoming indistinguishable from other political entities that prioritise power over principle.
Malaysia needs to be saved from neo-liberal capitalism that was unleashed by Dr Mahathir Mohamad when he came to power in 1981 and sold off our national assets through his privatisation policies in the 22 years he was in power. Our national resources were hived off to crony capitalists under the guise of affirmative action.
Thus, to stay relevant in the face of international realities and to reclaim its ideological legacy, DAP must:
- Reignite socialist discourse within the party, ensuring that policy debates centre on economic justice, workers’ rights, and wealth redistribution.
- Champion socialist policies in its legislative agenda, rather than merely engaging in opposition for the sake of political mileage. These include people-centred and sustainable development; a progressive economic policy; equitable wealth redistribution; improved public health, transport and social services; participatory democracy; equitable wealth redistribution and an inclusive society and culture.
- Engage with grassroots movements and trade unions, reaffirming its commitment to the people rather than to elite political manoeuvring, defending workers’ rights and interests.
- Reaffirm its international socialist alliances, drawing inspiration from global movements that have successfully implemented socialist policies in governance.
As DAP moves forward, it must remember that its success was built on a foundation of socialist ideals. The party’s legitimacy and relevance depend not on internal political manoeuvring but its ability to champion the principles it once held dear.
If DAP continues to neglect its socialist roots, it will find itself losing not only its ideological identity but also the trust of the people who once saw it as a force for progressive change.
Kua Kia Soong is an academic and former MP.
DAP is now The Developer Party
ReplyDeleteThe fall of DAP is so classic.
ReplyDeleteThe marginalised outcasts have a taste of official careers, packed with emoluments designed by the ketuanan elites. Many r drugged on that ideal!
The foundational fights pale in comparison to those WANTS generated by outlandish perks/huge salary. They r been corrupted through & through via their humanistic greed!