By Baradan Kuppusamy (Malaysian Insider)
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 — The DAP national convention in Ipoh on Sunday will showcase a political party maturing from a Chinese-based, urban centric political organisation into a national political organisation representing Middle Malaysia — that growing clientele of Malaysians, irrespective of race or religion, desiring a merit based, just and fair performance democracy build around a secular constitution and governance by Rule of Law.
That’s the vision the DAP has fought for since its founding in March 1966 and that’s the vision it has offered the electorate in various forms and shape, Malaysian Malaysia included, in the past ten general elections.
The staying power of the DAP was rewarded in the 2008 general election and this Sunday’s convention, to be attended by over 1,200 national delegates, is also about, what is next for the DAP.
“Not only are we concerned about the next general election and how to do well with our Pakatan allies, but we are also focused on our future beyond that,” said DAP leader and Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran (picture).
“How the DAP can lead the transformation of Malaysia into a vibrant and democratic country respecting diversity and human rights are also themes we are debating,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
Not only is the party growing, both in membership, political clout and confidence, it is aiming to transform into a truly multi-racial, national party.
In one sense the DAP is competing with and hoping to eventually outdo ally PKR as the true champion of Middle Malaysia.
Middle Malaysia is a growing constituency held together by common values and desires to see the birth of a prosperous and just Malaysia held together by respect for the constitution and Rule of Law.
“Previously we were seen as just an opposition political party that always raises a hue and cry over issues,” said lawyer and DAP leader A. Sivanesan.
“But now people are beginning to see us as a growing, national political party that is able to rule and able to provide a clean and transparent government,” he said.
“People realise that we can handle responsibilities,” he said.
It is this kind of confidence and maturity that the DAP wants to showcase at its national convention on Sunday.
The PKR is mired in internal squabbles and divergence of views over major issues of governance i.e. over holding local council election, over the role of Islam in a secular society and over the future of Pakatan Rakyat supremo Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
It’s an image the PKR can do without.
The DAP on the other hand appears united and focused while inexperienced at governing but is by most accounts doing a decent job running Penang.
Consolidation and expansion are the main long term themes of the convention but the immediate focus is on preparations for the 13th general election.
DAP sources said party secretary general Lim Guan Eng will touch on various themes in his keynote address including party discipline and the need to toe the line and not go off on a tangent like the case of a Penang state assemblyman who is threatening to resign if parking fees is introduced in his constituency.
He will also repeat what adviser Lim Kit Siang had famously warned last year that PR can end up as a “one term wonder” if it does not end squabbles, buck up and deliver on the numerous promises made to the electorate.
Sunday’s gathering will also see more Malay faces among the delegates, a rare sight because previous DAP conventions, forums and meetings had come and gone without the participation of a single Malay.
But all that is changing. According to DAP leaders more Malays were signing up to join DAP and form branches.
“They are beginning to accept that we are for common values, equality and democratic governance and rule of law,” said DAP Vice-chairman M Kulasegaran.
Appointing former Transparency International Malaysia president Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim as party vice-chairman and nominating him as a senator has also enhanced the DAP’s image among Malaysians and given it a national flavour.