OPINION: DAP finds the shoes are pretty big to fill

OPINION: DAP finds the shoes are pretty big to fill

Posted by Raja Petra
Sunday, 16 March 2008,MT

The DAP registered its most impressive showing in the country's election. It now needs to walk the talk to fulfil the high expectations of the people, writes CHOK SUAT LING

NEW Yang Berhormat Tony Pua's life is, in his own words, "upside down" at the moment.

The DAP Petaling Jaya Utara member of parliament is scrambling to stay afloat following the seismic wave that swept him and many of his fellow comrades to victory on March 8.

Oxford-educated Pua is swamped with post-election organising and work.

He is not complaining, far from it. The DAP economic adviser is taking everything in stride.

Pua acknowledges being surprised by his margin of victory in Petaling Jaya Utara over MCA's formidable Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, and the overall performance of the party.

Pua says: "While quietly confident of a decent victory in PJ Utara, I was amazed when informed I was winning at all polling stations. But the winds of change were strong and not many in Barisan Nasional would have withstood it."

Indeed, DAP won 26 parliamentary seats and 73 state seats. In the aftermath of its extraordinary achievement, what can the people expect from this largely Chinese-based party which now governs Penang, and is a member of an alternative coalition which rules several other states?

Pua foresees some teething problems but nothing insurmountable. The first will be securing resources and talent to help the party in various aspects.

That, he claims, is not a difficult task.

"Many people, among them engineers and lawyers, have offered to help us in policymaking, organisational planning and basically to get things going," says Pua.

But what analysts say is more important in these early days following their huge win is for members of the alternative coalition to prevent infighting at the state level, especially in Selangor, Penang and Perak.

A political observer notes that on this score, the outlook is grim.

In Perak, a tussle over the menteri besar and executive council posts among members of the alternative coalition led to delays in the formation of the state government. There has been some wrangling in Selangor over the post of deputy menteri besar. In Kedah, the sole DAP representative was excluded from the state coalition government.

"Disunity among members of this informal coalition does not inspire confidence," adds the observer.

It also lends credence to BN's contention that the loose opposition pact is nothing but a "marriage of convenience".

Social scientist Dr Kua Kia Soong describes the inter-party wrangling as shameful and ridiculous.

"In our system, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the sultans merely endorse the executive list presented by the ruling coalition. In Perak and Selangor, DAP has created a serious precedent by passing over this prerogative to the respective sultans.

"It is a negligent act on its part to let the ruler be the executive director of the company. For this, DAP will have to take responsibility," says the New Era College principal and former DAP MP.

Their recent actions, adds Kua, have shown that they are merely paying lip service to integrity and professionalism:

"They should mend their ways or prepare to face the consequences before long."

No less important for the DAP, following its unprecedented victory, is implementing key promises made during campaigning.

The party is aware of the need to live up to its pledges to ensure it is not shown the door by voters in the next election.

Considering the party has zero experience in governing a state, it could very well turn out to be a case of easier said than done.

In its manifesto for Penang, DAP promised, among other things, a bonus of up to RM6,000 per family for households earning less than RM6,000 per annum.

It also pledged to ensure safer streets and establish an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), provide better living standards and establish a non-racial and non-religious economic policy.

It promised to provide quality education for all, provide a healthy environment for future generations, provide gender equality and youth empowerment, establish a non-corrupt, clean government, and uphold democracy and freedom.

How realistic are the pledges?

According to political analyst Khoo Kay Peng, some of the pledges cannot be fulfilled as the party needs to be in power in the federal government first.

New chief minister Lim Guan Eng, for example, has already said the RM6,000 bonus could only be handed out if DAP led the country and had access to Petronas funds.

"It is not that the pledges are not realistic," explains Khoo. "It is just that the party needs to be in power at federal level in order to do so. For instance, it is not the policy of the BN government to give out a bonus of RM6,000 and establish the IPCMC, so these cannot be carried out."

He notes, however, that DAP can fulfil the other pledges, such as providing a clean and healthy environment, ensuring gender equality in state agencies and in industry, and establishing a non-corrupt state government.

"It can facilitate the collection of rubbish, re-educate hawkers, ensure the people do not clog up drains and curb river pollution," adds Khoo.

Khoo welcomes Lim's call for all office-bearers to declare their assets as "a good first step. It is something that should be adopted not just at executive level but also by heads of all state agencies".

On DAP's part, will a mechanism be established to monitor the implementation of projects, and to ensure members remain free of corruption and political patronage?

For DAP political strategist Liew Chin Tong, public opinion will be the measure of the party's performance.

"Malaysians are now capable of voting out 'non-performers'. So if we do not govern well, in Penang especially, we will be out in the next election," says Liew, who beat Gerakan's Datuk Chia Kwang Chye for the Bukit Bendera parliamentary seat.

Liew says DAP will also make efforts to reach out to the non-Chinese communities. It is aware that many of its votes in this election came from the Malay and Indian communities and views this as a good chance for the party to broaden its appeal.

Political analyst Ong Kian Ming lists several other key challenges at the national and state levels.

At the national level, DAP needs to see how it can work with BN to introduce local elections, electoral reforms and abolish certain laws like the Internal Security Act.

Ong notes: "It has to monitor corruption more effectively, either with BN's co-operation or by pressuring it. The DAP must also find a way to work together with Parti Keadilan Rakyat to persuade Pas not to push the Islamic state agenda and to instead focus on common goals."

What's most crucial for DAP, however, is to ensure development for Penang. It knows the island state is an important showcase of its abilities.

An aide to a minister in the last cabinet reminds DAP that the people are watching:

"BN is also observing closely. From what we see, its populist moves in Penang may help broaden the party's appeal."

But he foresees problems for the party arising from infighting in Perak and Selangor: "These are the factors that will help boost our chances in the next election." - NST