MANY Democratic Action Party members are wondering why their party is being viciously attacked – not just from pro-UMNO cybertroopers and some racists but also certain senior politicians. Most of these racial allegations against the DAP are lies, yet they are being repeated over and over again.

When the lies are repeated, many gullible Malaysians especially Malays start to believe that the DAP is Chinese, and vice versa; as if it is a bad thing. While the evil intention of those lies was to make Malays hate the DAP, it has escalated into hating the Chinese in general. This creates yet another racial problem in our already racialised society.

Therefore, it is only natural for some DAP members to believe that their party is being vilified because it is “Chinese”, i.e. majority of members are Chinese Malaysians.

Perhaps some DAP members have overreacted on this issue. While the racists may really want to denigrate the Chinese, powerful people in UMNO-Barisan Nasional knew very well what they were doing – to undermine the DAP for its ideology.

DAP’s ideology? Seriously?

Cynics may think this is a laughable argument. Come on, who cares about ideology? Ideology is obsolete, it can’t put food on the table, it’s no fun; even in universities it’s a boring subject.

Yet, the DAP believes in social democracy. It evolved from its original ideology of democratic socialism. From it came the slogan of “Malaysian Malaysia”.

First mooted in the 1960s, Malaysian Malaysia was meant to promote equality among individuals and ethnic groups in Malaysia. Of course, such change can only happen when the Malays, being the majority ethnic group in Malaysia, agree to accept the idea.

So, what will happen if equality is achieved? Political reality dictates that affirmative action will stay; however instead of being a race-based programme, it could be turned to help the marginalised in the country regardless of race, religion or gender.

So, who would lose out? Probably the current rent seekers, racial politics peddlers, religious bigots, and other opportunists. Not necessarily all but most of them.

UMNO leaders depend on the Malays’ support to hold on to power. If the Malays begin to believe that they are free individuals who can choose any political party that works best for their economic and social interest, UMNO may no longer be their first choice. UMNO will be relegated to status of an ordinary political party, no longer a great institution for the Malays.

That’s the reason top UMNO leaders believe they must continue to undermine the DAP. Perhaps they will not ban it because they always need a bogeyman, and the DAP is the perfect monster to scare the Malays. For them, the DAP must be portrayed as Public Enemy Number One, not the tame MCA or Gerakan.

While some attacks against the DAP were indeed racially motivated, it is more to do with UMNO’s fear of social democracy, especially on the question of equality.

So the best course of action for some DAP members is not to be racially reactive, i.e. by being defensively Chinese when under attack. They should instead continue to promote social democracy through leadership by example. It must be actions, not mere words.

With this, DAP members can showcase the fact that whether you’re a Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian or any other faith, or gender or ethnicity, everyone is guided by the same universal values. These are the values of freedom, justice, and solidarity.

Of course, the DAP is far from perfect. Even promoting equality is easier said than done. But we have to start somewhere. – July 14, 2017.

* Wan Hamidi Hamid is a veteran journalist with a deep love and knowledge of rock music

* 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.