We went through hell and back

We went through hell and back

Commentary by Liew Chin Tong

AUG 27 — Amidst the jubilation among delegates at DAP's post-election national congress, the party is keenly aware of its historical mission to transform Malaysia for the better, an aspiration strengthened by its long and hard road to political prominence.

Unlike other political parties that meet annually, DAP's delegates participate in national congresses with election for central executive committee members triennially. Between two congresses a national conference is held.

Last Saturday's congress in Kuala Lumpur was DAP's 15th since its formation in March 1966. It was postponed from last September as the general election was looming.

It is the first congregation of national, state and grassroots leaders since the March 8th political tsunami that catapulted DAP from a permanent opposition party to holder of state power, and now a partner in a fledging coalition contending for federal power.

In his policy speech, delivered in Malay, English and Mandarin, secretary-general Lim Guan Eng paid tributes to his fellow comrades for their sacrifices throughout the party's 42 years of existence in Malaysian politics.

The members, according to Guan Eng, braved "the cruellest ridicule for this moment of recognition". He said, off-the-cuff in Mandarin, that many DAP men were "often reprimanded by their wives and relatives for wasting time and money on DAP" whereas women in the party were "accused of neglecting their families".

As Guan Eng spoke, tears flow freely down the faces of many. Rain or shine, it was these ordinary men and women that kept the party afloat through their voluntary activism, with the knowledge that there was no reward, financial or otherwise.

Just a few years ago, DAP was seen as a lost cause with many doubting its long term viability. For three consecutive elections since 1995, the party were confined to its core support base and winning only nine (1995), 10 (1999) and 12 (2004) parliamentary seats.

These dark years also saw several rounds of internal splits, with the Chinese educationists withdrawing from the party following the electoral debacle in 1995 and the so-called KOKS strife (to oust Kit Siang or some argued Karpal Singh as well), which involved three former MPs, in 1998.

Very few at last week's meeting realise that exactly 10 years ago, on Aug 23 1998, the party held its 12th congress in an entirely different atmosphere. The party election was the final showdown between those who supported Kit Siang's leadership and those who were against.

Delegates tried hard to fathom the brutal fact that Guan Eng was then scheduled to appear in the Federal Court for his final appeal to quash his conviction under Sedition and Printing Presses and Publications Acts the next day.

Eventually, Guan Eng was sent to the Kajang Prison on Aug 25 1998, regaining his freedom a year later. Due to his conviction, he was not allowed to participate in the 1999 and 2004 elections.

"We went through hell and back," said Guan Eng at the recent congress. "Indeed we shed blood, sweat and tears. But we never doubted, never gave up and never surrendered."

Indeed, DAP leaders and Guan Eng in particular went through hell over the last four decades. No fewer than two dozen DAP leaders were arrested under the infamous Internal Security Act at various times.

But the party triumphantly returned on March 8 this year.

DAP almost doubled its national popular vote share from 9.7 percent or 687,340 votes in the 2004 elections to 18.1 percent in this election, winning 1,071,431 votes nationally. Its share of parliamentary seats increased from 12 seats in the 2004 elections to 28 while state seats increased from 15 in 2004 to 73 (six more seats in Sarawak were won in the 2006 state election).

"While we never expected the political tsunami on March 8," admits Guan Eng, "we are proud to savour this historical moment with the people."

DAP's long-time battle cry of denying Barisan Nasional's two-thirds majority in Parliament was achieved at once. The Pakatan Rakyat forms the state governments of Penang, Perak, Selangor, Kedah, and Kelantan while breaking BN's two-thirds hold in Negri Sembilan assembly.

DAP also expanded its base in other states like Malacca, Pahang and Federal Territory while witnessed breakthroughs for the first time in a decade or so in Kedah, Johor and Sabah.

Electoral gains aside, March 8 gave DAP a new lease of life, which Guan Eng recognised in his speech as "the coming of age of DAP". From a party confined to its core base over three consecutive elections, DAP now boasts:

• Greater gender inclusiveness. The party fielded 19 woman candidates nationwide, 14 of them are now elected representatives;

• Greater multi-ethnic inclusiveness. DAP fielded the largest share of Indian candidates of any Malaysian political parties. Nearly 30 percent of our candidates are ethnic Indians and there are now seven DAP MPs and 12 DAP state assemblypersons who are of ethnic Indian background;

• New generation. A third of DAP's candidates are of the age of 30 or below. Among elected representatives, more than a third is under 40;

• Broadening of DAP's appeal. Estimates show that DAP candidates obtained averagely 20 percent or higher of Malay votes in urban centres.

With this broad-based support and pool of elected representatives from all backgrounds, Guan Eng vowed to take the party to a greater heights by making it a "mainstream party" that continues to uphold the highest level of integrity in governance but reaches out extensively to non-traditional constituents, especially engaging the Malays with greater tact and sensitivity.

It is in this context that Guan Eng proclaimed that the DAP aspires to be a responsible partner in power through endorsing Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the alternative prime minister of Malaysia and being committed to the struggles of Pakatan Rakyat, on the basis of promoting CAT (competency, accountability and transparency) governance and the party's Malaysian First ideals.

DAP defines the relationship among the Pakatan parties as a pact of equals with no party imposing its will and ideology on the other.

It has been the longest way possible for DAP to come from perceived political oblivion to within striking distance of national power in coalition with others. DAP is humbly savouring its sweetest victory ever with a vision for broad-based new politics.

(Liew Chin Tong is the DAP MP for Bukit Bendera who was elected the party's International Bureau Secretary last weekend.)

Malaysian Insider