(CF) TEASER Don't tase me bro

DAP figures have predicted that the party’s delegates will opt for the Pakatan Harapan component to retain its government positions during its upcoming Aug 16 national congress. 

With the poll on whether DAP should remain in the federal government expected to have far-reaching consequences, the debate session where delegates will voice their concerns and aspirations could provide crucial insight for the party’s leadership.

According to DAP’s former Skudai assemblyperson Boo Cheng Hau, sentiments observed among the party’s grassroots thus far indicate that delegates would prefer that the party remain part of the unity government via its representation in cabinet.

“The feedback I have received is that it is in the best interest of the party and country for (DAP) to finish the mandate until the end of (the federal government’s) term and let the people judge our ultimate performance,” he told Malaysiakini. 

The Taman Ungku Tun Aminah DAP branch publicity secretary, however, cautioned that such support hinges on whether the party’s leadership can show that it is making “reasonable efforts” to rectify and amend shortfalls.

READ MORE: DAP exit may give opposition leverage to push Anwar into snap polls, says analyst

Expressing similar sentiments, former Klang MP Charles Santiago theorised that while some party members are torn between having party representatives stay in government and quitting their posts, the general consensus appears to be leaning towards the status quo.

When contacted, Charles said that beyond considerations on political stability, such a stance could also be attributed to a desire to avoid “problems” associated with finding replacements if the relevant positions are vacated.

'Better than nothing'

A delegate for a Selangor DAP branch, who requested anonymity, further affirmed to Malaysiakini that party members surveyed have made known their inclination for the party’s continued presence in cabinet.

He asserted that most members are of the view that after a lengthy struggle to gain federal power, DAP should hang on to its ability to influence reforms and fulfil its promises for as long as it is given the mandate to do so.

Describing the current situation where DAP has its officeholders in cabinet as “better than nothing at all,” the delegate said a majority of party members will remain loyal to the party regardless of the voting outcome on Aug 16.

The viewpoints shared by the delegate, Boo, and Charles might also reflect public sentiment towards DAP, with excerpts of a Merdeka Centre survey sighted by Malaysiakini showing that slightly more than half of respondents would rather the party stay in government post-Aug 16. 

In the survey, 56.5 percent of respondents felt that DAP should remain in government, with 23 percent saying this must come with demands for reforms.

If DAP were to stay in government, 85.7 percent of Harapan supporters said they would continue voting for the party. However, only 63 percent of voters under 30 said they would vote DAP in such a scenario.

The survey, which polled an unknown number of respondents on whether the party should quit the government, has yet to be published and is believed to have been commissioned by DAP. 

Harapan in ‘ICU’, time to get cracking 

Positing that Harapan is not “in a position” to win the 16th general election in its current state, Charles stressed that if delegates determine that DAP will remain in government, the party must do more to improve its standing among voters. 

As such, he listed several reform measures which he said DAP must pressure Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to implement as part of a “quid pro quo deal” for the party’s continued support, which will be key in avoiding potential claims of the Harapan chairperson losing legitimacy. 

The measures proposed by Charles include a cabinet reshuffle to remove ministers “compromising” Harapan’s anti-corruption commitment, with the former parliamentarian insisting that public opinion of the coalition has been hampered by its cooperation with such figures. 

“Harapan is in the ICU (intensive care unit) now - it’s time to make some tough decisions (as) a way of telling Malaysians that we’re serious about our pledges against corruption,” Charles said.     

He highlighted that DAP must double down on calls to publicly disclose findings by a special committee tasked with probing former MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki’s shareholding issue.

“We must ensure that the report (on the committee’s findings) comes out within one or two weeks (from Aug 16), which should be achievable since the report is supposedly already completed.

“What’s the point in being in the government and the cabinet if we’re not able to exert influence? DAP needs to be (the government and Harapan’s) backbone with a spine,” he pressed. 

READ MORE: Fahmi: Cabinet not yet informed on action against Azam over shares issue

Charles pointed out that repeated appeals by DAP as well as other parties and activists to set up a royal commission of inquiry to investigate “corporate mafia” allegations have also gone unheeded.

He further advocated for DAP to champion the establishment of a high-level committee to address cost-of-living issues, a nationwide meal plan for all schools, and a commitment to ensure social protection alongside minimum wages for gig workers.

Arguing that such measures will only aid in boosting Harapan’s appeal to the public ahead of elections, he warned that if Anwar continues to “deflect” on such reform measures, the public will get “fed up”.

Boo also conceded that public dissatisfaction towards Harapan runs deep, pointing to the coalition’s losses in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections as evidence of this sentiment.

However, he argued that the public has realised the structural constraints faced by Harapan - despite being the largest bloc in Parliament, the coalition lacks a simple majority to push through the reforms it promised.

Additionally, it has to appease its coalition government partners, including BN, to preserve the nation’s political stability.