DAP lawmakers must actively perform their check-and-balance duties to avoid MCA’s missteps during its time in government, a political analyst says.
Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia said the party could avoid the perception that it is “kow-towing” to the government by assuming a stronger oversight role.
“This would enable DAP to avoid being criticised the way MCA was,” he told FMT.
DAP had in the past labelled MCA a “lapdog” of Umno, BN‘s lynchpin.
Sivamurugan urged DAP’s MPs to reinforce the party’s multi-racial credentials by prioritising national concerns — such as education, healthcare and urban development — over race-based agendas.
“This will allow it to move away from being seen as a single race based party,” he said, referring to the perception that the DAP was a Chinese party.
Sivamurugan was commenting on former MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker’s claim that DAP had evolved into “MCA 2.0”.
Ti’s remarks were made in response to DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook’s insistence that the party did not need MCA’s support to function or progress.
‘Key distinction’
Explaining the “MCA 2.0” label, James Chin from the University of Tasmania said DAP presently faces a challenge similar to MCA’s experience in the BN government.
However, he said the key distinction between the two lies in the fact that DAP is the largest party within the unity government, whereas MCA has always operated within a coalition dominated by Umno.
“DAP cannot be seen publicly pushing for the interest of the non-Malays because it could create a backlash against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim,” Chin told FMT, adding that DAP was however in a position to lobby “behind the scenes”.
“Rather than making public statements, DAP MPs can brief their party members directly on what they are doing to maintain strong internal support. DAP leaders can then brief their Malay counterparts in the Cabinet.”
Azmi Hassan, a fellow at the National Council of Professors, does not believe DAP has become an impotent force, as suggested.
He said DAP was unlike MCA, which has always relied on Umno for electoral support and, as a result, were obliged to defer to an Umno-led government.
“DAP stands on its own. They gained the trust of the Chinese community through their own credibility, not because of PKR, Amanah or Umno.”
