DAP should put an end to the nonsense of delegates deciding whether its ministers should remain in the Cabinet, whether the party should remain within the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition fold and whether the party should disband itself for betraying the non-Malays in the country.
I don’t understand why Anthony Loke Siew Fook is only thinking of resigning as the Negeri Sembilan (N9) DAP head.
Shouldn’t his ignominious loss in the Chennah seat during the recent N9 state polls call for his resignation as the party’s secretary-general, the Transport Minister and, not least, as the Seremban MP?
DAP should not waste the valuable time of the public by engaging in meaningless prognoses. Just like the MCA, Gerakan and MIC, DAP is a relic of history.
Internal cosmetic changes are not going to re-invent DAP to its past position of glory and fame.
Generational, material and ideological changes have reduced the party to a position of subordination and subservience to Malay leaders.
Material changes coupled with the emergence of a new generation of pliant and submissive leaders have robbed the party of its fighting spirit.
The party leadership could not even have a say on the closing down of pig farms as though these are something alien to Malaysia.
‘Strong internal opposition’
There is no need to narrate other matters where the party – by not speaking up for the Chinese and Indians – has left these two communities in limbo.
DAP, the traditional enemy of UMNO, could not even resist the latter’s role in the Federal government.
Yet this friendship came back to haunt DAP when UMNO by going solo in the Johor and N9 elections, backstabbed the PH coalition and DAP.
The Barisan Nasional (BN)-PAS pact made the situation even more worrisome. It is obvious that Loke has outlived his usefulness as the ultimate DAP leader.
His loss in the recent N9 state election raises serious questions about whether he still has the calibre and credentials to lead the party.
I think Loke has to go – the sooner, the better. I understand there is an oppositional force within DAP against Loke.
Why not the leaders of this faction come to the fore and rescue the party from its present political doldrums?
The heyday of Loke is gone forever. Let us see whether the oppositional faction lurking in the shadows can emerge to lead the party.
However, one thing is sure: DAP has no choice but to abandon the PH coalition and its friendship with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
It is Anwar’s opportunism that is largely responsible for the political decay of DAP. – Aug 4, 2026
Former DAP stalwart and Penang deputy chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
