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.