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Party Declarations
 
An outline of Party Declarations since 1967
 
 
Setapak Declaration

The Setapak Declaration affirms DAP's viewpoint that in the process of nation-building, ethnic equality must be made the paramount principle, and it is upon this principle that the separation of citizens into "Bumiputra" and " non- Bumiputra" is strongly opposed. On policies relating to culture and education, the Declaration stresses the spirit of the National Constitution must be respected; while firmly accepting Bahasa Malaysia as the national language, the right of using other languages must be protected.

The Setapak Declaration also affirms the commitment of DAP to building a creative and harmonious nation, that provides the only way of national integration, not national disintegration. (1967)

   
 
Statement On Cultural Democracy

The Statement On Cultural Democracy propagates that multiculturalism is a source of national strength and the foundation of collective culture, but not the cause of disharmony and discord.

It advocates the free exchange and development of different cultures in a multi-ethnic society because this is the best way of achieving firm and sustainable national integration.

It advocates amongst others:
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Bahasa Malaysia as the National Language;
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Abolition of the classification of "national" and "national-type" schools by giving equal treatment to all the four streams of education- Malay, English, Chinese and Tamil. Chinese and Tamil to be accepted as medium of instruction as well as examination at primary and secondary levels, in all Chinese and Tamil medium schools.
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Admission to the Universities to be determined solely on the merit of basic educational qualification, to ensure that standards of university admission and of university examinations are maintained at a high level. The Statement On Cultural Democracy reflects the basic values and ideas of social democracy and multiculturalism. (1968)
   
 
The Petaling Declaration

The Petaling Declaration reaffirms that DAP is to achieve its objective of creating a democratic socialist Malaysian Malaysia through peaceful, democratic and constitutional struggle.

The Petaling Declaration also reaffirms the call to abolish the quota system, and calls on the Government to seriously deal with the problems of rural poverty, land ownership, manpower training and provision of basic infrastructure, so as to eradicate class polarisation.

The Petaling Declaration makes many suggestions on how to build a clean, efficient and caring government. The concrete measures to combat corruption and to promote democratisation are still valued as the guiding principles of our struggle. (1981)

   
 
The Tanjong Declaration

The mission statement of the Party, that encapsulates the 25 years of the struggle of the Party and provides a future programme of action.

It enhances the Party's understanding of the concepts of freedom and democracy in a new era. It strengthens the theoretical premise of the Party's founding ideas and principles and reaffirms the dedication of the Party:
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to the international social-democracy movement and the cause of human solidarity;
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to the struggle against autocracy, corruption, exploitation and oppression
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to the struggle for genuine ethnic equality

Guided by the basic values of democratic socialism, the Tanjong declaration also outlines the Party's stand on issues relating to privatization, labour, women, youth, environment, culture, education, rural poverty and international relations. (1992)

   
 
DAP Women's Tanjong Declaration

In order to enhance the rights of the Malaysian women of all strata and ethnic community and to accelerate the process of their liberation from passivity and subjugation, the DAP Women declares its dedication to the following programmes in 1992:

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opposition of all forms of violence, discrimination and exploitation against women;
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recognition of the equality of women's labour and struggle for better protection of its fruit of labour
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amendment to all the discriminatory laws;
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setting up a Ministry of Women Affairs to be headed by a woman minister;
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upgrading the healthcare system with emphasis given to the needs of women to enjoy better healthcare;
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reaffirmation of women liberation being an organic part of the general struggle of human rights and democracy (1992)
   
 
DAPSY Declaration

The DAP Socialist Youth, DAPSY, aspires to infuse the new Malaysian youth with values of critical and independent thinking, courage and readiness to sacrifice for democracy, justice, peace and freedom. Towards this, DAPSY dedicates its works to the following programmes:

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the restoration of the 1957 Merdeka Constitution;
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equality of rights and opportunity for all;
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positive development of human resources;
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human rights, freedom and democracy;
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environmental protection and consumer rights;
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achieve a democratic socialist Malaysian Malaysia;
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opposition to oppression;
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opposition to corruption and promoting national unity through moral values, public accountability and responsibility. (1992)
   
 
DAPSY Kulai Declaration of Anti-Corruption

DAPSY calls for a declaration of war against corruption which amongst others demands::

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all members of Government not only must publicly declare their assets but also legally prohibited from accumulating extraordinary wealth and living beyond their official means
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there is no mixing of politics with business and members of Government are not allowed to get involve in business
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the Anti-Corruption Agency be given full independent powers and be accountable and subjected only to the scrutiny of and supervision from Parliament;
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All assets of those found guilty of corruption be confiscated by the State (1993)
   
 
The BA Common Manifesto

In the 1999 general election, DAP teamed up with Parti Islam SaMalaya (PAS), Parti Keadilan Nasional (Keadilan) and Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) to form the Barisan Alternative (BA).

DAP remains unswerving in its commitment that Malaysia shall remain as a democratic, secular and multi-religious nation. DAP’s cooperation with the other three opposition parties was based on the BA common manifesto, “Towards A Just Malaysia” in order to break the BN’s political hegemony and smash the chains of repression fettering the rights and freedom of Malaysians and undermining justice, freedom, democracy and good governance.

Unfortunately, however, subsequent events that transpired, especially the insistence of PAS in forming an Islamic State – an idea deemed incompatible with the pluralistic nature of a Malaysian nation cherished by DAP - shattered the whole basis of the cooperation. Once the common objectives of the BA coalition had been tainted by one component party's insistence to alter the secular nature of this country, it was no longer tenable for DAP to continue in the BA.

DAP pulled out from the coalition in 2001.

   



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