IN recent months, there has been much talk about political cooperation. This is likely a result of the perceived political instability amid a Covid-19 resurgence, what more with the most important bill of any fiscal government year, the Budget 2021, at stake. 

These rumoured efforts of reaching across the aisle in bipartisan cooperation range from a full-fledged unity government to a needs-driven supply-and-confidence understanding, and anything in between.  

With 42 MPs, the biggest single-party bloc of MPs, one would assume DAP is thick in the action of these political gossip. Instead, like the overweight kid in school PE sessions, it seems to be the last pick.  

Perhaps DAP is a victim of its own success. The party not only has its MPs, but also a whopping 104 ADUNs across 10 states, not counting its senators, Exco and municipal councillors. 

Even during Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) heyday, the party consistently stood out with strong performing ministers and deputies of exceptional calibre. The party is in its prime, its zenith of power.

Through much of the open-season type politics, the party remained relatively focussed on its reform branding and platform. Securing the urban and liberal bases, it shifted its focus on interior Sabah and Sarawak and the Malay electorate. 

In doing this, perhaps it has overstepped not only its comfort zone, but also the political boundaries others would prefer it not to cross. 

Rightly or wrongly, coalition politics in Malaysia has been largely shaped by the 45 years of Barisan Nasional dominance. Its formula of a large Malay party leading, with strong supporting roles of Chinese, Indian and Sabah and Sarawakian parties, while accommodating fringe parties with requisite local or ideological appeal. 

In the previous opposition pact of Pakatan Rakyat, PAS was perceived as playing a dominant role. In PH, the joint strength of Malay-based Bersatu and Amanah proved insufficient to stave off the perception that it was a DAP-dominated government. 

The reality is, however, even though it did hold many seats, DAP was, and is, in many ways, less assertive than MCA or MIC. 

Throughout the 22 months, DAP did not make any overt political demand for positions, governmental or otherwise. Nor was there strong push for grassroots’ demands or things their opponents had claimed it would ask for – immediate recognition for UEC, full funding for vernacular schools, greater religious freedom and latitude, university placements and business grants and so on. 

In fact, not much policy changes were made other than its push for better governance and competence, and the removal of people not committed to both. Civil servants were not sacked, there was no overnight Chinese takeover, and there wasn’t any Bumiputra business shutdown. There wasn’t any witch-hunt either, except for the biggest cases.  

Much of the fear, hesitance and apprehension against the DAP stem from the notion that there was a real need to keep DAP in check, or it would exert influence and control over its partners, an idea already disproved by the party’s conduct, at the peak of its power, where it held strong positions in seven state governments, and the federal government, including the finance portfolio. 

Now at a much weaker position, DAP continues to be the bogeyman, even when it has little  to do with the infighting going on between the three dominant Malay-Muslim parties in Perikatan Nasional.  

Even when DAP has committed to support Budget 2021 but with reasonable terms. Even when it offered to swallow its pride and sit at the same table with politicians who betrayed it just a few months ago, all overtures so far have been rebuffed. 

DAP and its supporters have much to offer – experience in government and reform, social development and grassroots mobilisation.

It would be a loss to any political equation to sacrifice these boons for the sake of perpetuating a mythical bogeyman and short-sighted political survival. – November 25, 2020.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.