DAP’s urgent priority of polls reform that respects the “one-man, one-vote,one-value” principle will not be undermined by BN’s underhand tactics to try to split up PR by inviting DAP to join BN as DAP’s struggle is for principles not positions, for people-centric policies and not personal interests. Clearly BN’s latest tactics is designed to split up the unity within PR.
DAP has no interest in joining BN for posts because if we had wanted to, we could have done so during the last 40 years. However DAP refused to join BN and held steadfastly to our ideals, principles and policies of a fairer, freer and democratic Malaysia. DAP leaders had not only forgone the perks and privileges of high office, but sacrificed their personal liberties by being jailed and detained.
If DAP leaders can hold firm and steadfast when we lost in general elections, there is no doubt that DAP can do the same now when we have won the highest number of seats in our history of 38 Parliamentary and 107 state seats. This suggestion of DAP joining BN made by one MCA MP and one racist ex-UMNO Minister is clearly designed to undermine PR’s campaign to seek polls reform and split up the unity within PR.
The urgency of polls reform is highlighted by the travesty of justice of PR winning the popular vote in the 13th General Elections but yet losing government to BN. How can BN win power in Perak when PR won 55% of the popular vote? Similarly how can BN continue to be the Federal government when PR won 51% of the popular vote, an increase of 3% popular vote that allowed PR to gain only 7 parliamentary seats from 82 to 89.
Such injustice and underhanded tactics is most pronounced in Perak when PR won 52% of the popular vote in 2008 general elections and managed to win power with 31 state seats against 28 for BN. During this general elections, PR won even more popular votes in Perak this time with 55% and yet won only 28 state seats against BN’s 31. In both the Federal and Perak governments, we have a minority BN government or a minority Prime Minister and minority Perak Menteri Besar heading the administration.
Any talks of co-operation must be done through PR and not through individual parties. PR is willing to co-operate with BN to implement polls reform to reflect the unhappiness of the majority of Malaysians who voted for change and yet discover that despite winning the popular vote, they can not throw out BN.
Before this call to DAP to join BN, there have also been similar calls to PAS to join BN with UMNO for a unity government. All this is done when UMNO is demonizing both DAP and the Chinese community for daring to oppose and vote against BN. Malaysians are no longer stupid and will not allow BN to racialize national issues.
Instead every matter should be discussed and decided on merits that is not race-based but needs based. This is the new paradigm shift of this general elections – that the people are sick and tired of race-based and extremist politics as well as a clear preference for people-centric policies that makes a difference to the lives of ordinary Malaysians.
Let us prove that the power of the people is more powerful than those people in power!