Congratulations DAP! UMNO has now just reduced you to representing the Chinese and Indians.
As usual, I do not expect DAP to react or account to the people on what exactly their role now is. Despite having the highest number of MPs in the present government, DAP maintains dignified silence like a mouse on many pertinent issues and will avoid any public debates on policies, minority rights and interest. Neither will DAP revisit the reintroduction of discriminatory policies, etc.
Fair enough, their Ministers may be too embarrassed or choose to shy away from all these racial rhetoric and statements made in direct contrast and opposite of the policy changes that DAP had promised their supporters for decades. But what about the remaining 30-plus MPs who are backbenchers?
To be fair to its supporters, DAP should come out openly to refute the statement by Malaysian Ambassador to USA and UMNO strongman Dato’ Seri Nazri Aziz which had reduced this “multi-racial” party to a party that merely replaces MCA and MIC to empower their former nemesis turned “lover” politically in the name of “UNITY” and fear of PAS whom they have painted as “TALIBANESE”.
Instead of speaking out or negotiating for political dividends and policy concessions in return for their political support (a conventional role that had been carried out by MCA in the past), DAP Ministers in the Cabinet chose to sidestep all issues “Chinese” because these are sensitive and will not augur well for DAP as a political party which is “on its knees” wooing and begging for Malay support and acceptance.
Worse still, the DAP Deputy Minister of Communication who was an ultra spokesperson for DAP in the past on Chinese issues, now supports the clamping down of media freedoms by using the 3Rs as an excuse to sweep all pertinent issues and policies under the carpet.
This is exactly what happened when many decisions unfair to minorities were introduced back in the 1970s and 80s by the Executive but could not be publicly challenged or debated because of the blanket ban on these issues which were labelled as “SENSITIVE”.
My questions to DAP’s top leaders are:
1) Are you now accepting the role of speaking out for the Chinese and Indians or do you maintain that “(You are) not a Chinese” as declared by your Chairman Lim Guan Eng?
2) UMNO has said it publicly that “we must see whether DAP listens to us, or we listen to DAP today.” This is no more 3R sensitivity but even the Prime Minister had publicly said that DAP has never questioned race-based initiatives.
So, do you owe MCA and MIC an apology for stirring hatred towards our two parties on race-based initiatives now that you have embraced absolutely and succumbed to UMNO’s political dictate despite its fewer number of MPs than DAP.
The rakyat deserve an answer from your top leadership in the name of public accountability and transparency. Don’t hide behind 3Rs nor be silent like a mouse. Be transparent and don’t forget the CAT (Competency, Accountability, Transparency) that you promised to your supporters when you were in the opposition.
Senator Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker
MCA Vice President
* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Agenda Daily.