DAP presses panic button after Sabah debacle

THE past week saw a number of DAP leaders start to speak up on issues the way they did when they were the opposition.

It was quite a change from all that tip-toeing through the corridors of power that had become the DAP style since forming the government.

It seems like they have decided there would be no more of that monkey business of see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil pattern that has riled the Chinese who put them there.

Party leaders were still in shock from being wiped out in the Sabah election when they convened for an emergency central executive committee (CEC) meeting two days after the debacle.

The party was in crisis mode and the marathon meeting went on for five hours, ending well after midnight.

Attendees did not hold back on what they thought had caused the devastating losses. Several ministers were criticised not only for their campaign style in Sabah but also for policies which have stirred frustration and anger among their base.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke knew his credibility as DAP secretary-general was on the line and he did not indulge in the blame game or cook up excuses.

Neither was he delusional like a certain PKR leader who is still the subject of jokes on social media for her victorious tone of voice when announcing "we have enough numbers to form the government" on election night although her party won only one seat.

Party leaders are aware of the labels thrown at them - timid, betrayal and kow-towing to Malay demands, to name a few. More painful is the way the party’s rocket logo is often portrayed as the wilting portion of the male anatomy.

A grim-looking Loke emerged from the CEC meeting with the following conclusion: DAP has taken note of the widespread dissatisfaction throughout the Sabah campaign and will work with the Prime Minister to speed up the reform agenda over the next six months.

He did not specify the reforms to tackle but the six-month deadline is a tall order.

"People will see it as another empty promise if they say they will do it before the next general election. They need to inject some urgency and prioritise what needs to be immediately tackled," said a Selangor DAP figure who regarded what happened as a blessing in disguise.

The e-invoicing policy, which will be extended to the small and medium industries next month, was a major issue and there were suggestions for a review.

If the general election is held now, the e-invoicing policy would torch Pakatan Harapan the way GST or the Goods and Services Tax burnt Barisan Nasional in 2018.

The government’s fight against corruption is also an issue and the way officials raided the home of whistleblower Albert Tei has riled up many Chinese.

Many Chinese say that recognising the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) is not urgent but it was a moral promise that DAP sang like a pop song and which an MP from Johor claimed would be done with "the stroke of the pen" if DAP came to power.

The Sarawak government has recognised the UEC and Sabah is set to follow suit but the DAP promise is still blowing in the wind. It may not be urgent but it will be a huge moral victory if DAP can pull it off.

"It’s convenient to blame DAP but the Chinese need to look into the mirror. They put all their eggs in one basket, it is a wake-up call for the whole community.

"They need to do some soul-searching about how to use their votes. You cannot keep doing the same thing and expect different results," said a lawyer known among Chinese guilds and associations.

The Chinese strategy was to empower DAP, thinking that with numbers would come a bigger voice to stand alongside the Malay political powers.

However, even with 40 MPs and more than a hundred assemblymen, DAP was playing second fiddle to smaller Malay-based parties in the government. The DAP numbers in Parliament were no match for Malay voices outside of Parliament.

The political landscape will grow more challenging as the Chinese population shrinks below 20% while the Muslim-Malay population continues to expand.

Not everyone in DAP took the Sabah lesson well.

Vivian Wong, the Sandakan MP, who lost in Elopura appears to have not taken her defeat well. When a voter reminded her about the road condition in Sandakan town, she asked the person to tag the new assemblyman.

It was unprofessional and rather immature behaviour for a 36-year-old woman.

Wong "inherited" the Sandakan seat from her late father who was a DAP strongman and her attitude is reflective of the cohort that came in when DAP was riding high and adored by the Chinese.

Many DAP leaders have lost the humble and down-to-earth touch that is so important in politics.

She should learn from her state DAP chief Ginger Phoong who went around Luyang the day after he lost to thank voters and even consoled those who were sad that he lost, telling them he planned to serve them.

DAP thrived as an opposition by hitting out at Umno but its Enemy No 1 has become its good friend.

Although they dislike Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh, they admit in private that he plays a role in voicing issues that affect the Malay base.

On the other hand, Dapsy chief Woo Kah Leong is only interested in defending the government and attacking MCA instead of championing Chinese concerns.

Perhaps the most interesting thing coming from the DAP pow-wow was the claim that the party may consider withdrawing from Pakatan Harapan if the reforms are not seen within the next six months.

DAP has kicked the ball into Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s court. The reforms can only be speeded up with the Prime Minister’s commitment.

Anwar has much to gain by taking bold steps because so many of the seats his party won especially in Selangor were thanks to Chinese support for DAP.

How he responds to the pressure for reforms could determine his dream for a second term.