DAP revival in GE 15: What will they do differently?

All eyes are on the Democratic Action Party (DAP) amid the ongoing DAP national and state elections. On top of that, Lim Guan Eng is set to make his final lap as secretary-general at the Central Executive Committee (CEC) election next month, which has many wondering what the future of the party will look like moving forward? When GE15 comes, will we see DAP return to federal power or remain in the opposition? We talk to the party’s National Organising Secretary, the former transport minister, and perhaps the future leader of the party, Anthony Loke on his thoughts about the party, the state of politics in Malaysia, and his hopes for the future.

1. Young blood in the forefront

As tension rise and we see members of the old guard re-emerging in the ongoing state elections, some may wonder if the party is falling back into its comfort zone. Loke emphasises that although older leaders will still play a role, however, we will be seeing a new cohort of experienced young leaders at the forefront of the party, who will take up the leadership mantle in the next 10-20 years.

2. Changing narratives through inclusive leadership and grassroots activities

Despite DAP being perceived as a largely Malaysian Chinese party, the party aims to be a party for all – which starts with electing more inclusive leadership and ramping up grassroots activities. According to Loke, DAP is not only protecting its base of current supporters, but is also striving to expand to Malay communities as well.

“Although our Malay membership is currently low, we believe this will change in the near future as more young Malay leaders play a more prominent role within the party,” says Loke. In addition to that, direct grassroots programmes are ongoing to increase the party’s reach and give aid to communities in the rural heartlands of Malaysia. Will this eventually tip the balance in DAP’s favour?

3. Pakatan Harapan is here to stay, but let’s face the elephant in the room

Addressing the elephant in the room – Langkah Sheraton, which led to the downfall of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government last year – Loke calls the move a betrayal from one of the coalition’s component parties. Loke assures that PH is confident and strong, with its 3 existing parties (DAP, PKR and Amanah) intending to contest in the next general elections as one entity. Of course, there have been ups and downs in the past few years that they have learned from and “some internal communication issues that are being worked on, but PH is strong and ready.”

4. A clear winner must prevail

On the state of politics, there is a possibility in GE15 that there will be a 3-way battle between Umno, Perikatan Nasional and PH, should UMNO contest individually. As a result of that, there may not be a clear winner coming out of the polls. “Should the occasion arise, we must work together to find a solution to ensure the stability of the country,” warns Loke, as he emphasises that Malaysia has had enough of being in limbo, and that a stable government is imperative for the future of Malaysia.

5. Listening to stakeholders important to develop digital economy

Speaking about the cabotage policy, Loke contends that there were precise technical requirements for the repair of undersea cable lines which could only be done by a foreign vessel. Hence, the decision for an exemption was justified, despite allegations to the contrary from current Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong. Loke believes that in the long run, these exemptions will create trust between our stakeholders and propel more investments inwards, which in turn will serve the nation’s agenda of creating a booming digital economy.

6. Lessons learnt the hard way

Having been in government for 22 months, Loke states that moving forward it is important to him to be extra prepared when imagining possible countermeasures which might be needed. A good learning point was the flip-flop over the United Nations’ International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) in 2018, as there were insufficient discussions held internally before the decision was made public. “Now we more or less know the expectations, challenges, and problems that we’d potentially face,” says Loke, as he is now more prepared to face the music and get the job done.

7. DAP is ready in head and heart

Loke stresses that DAP is very clear about their wishes for good governance and reform in the system. With Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Prime Minister candidate and a clear framework for government, “we are clear in our hearts that if we put our resources and efforts together, we would be able to win the mandate of the people.”

So DAP is positioning itself for a revival, but do you think they are on track to return to federal power? What form will Malaysian politics take come GE15? 

Written by Charmaine Wong and edited by Lyn Mak.