THE inability of DAP to de-link itself from the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government illustrates, among other things, the weak leadership of its secretary-general and Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
The Seremban MP is nowhere near the stature of his predecessors. For starters, he lacks the dynamism of retired supremo Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang and party veteran Lim Guan Eng.
Both father and son fought fearlessly against the odds to establish a vibrant and formidable party to the extent that they were willing to go to jail.
Unfortunately, both leaders do not have much to say in the party in recent times. Given his age, octogenarian Kit Siang has basically withdrawn from politics.
Guan Eng who himself is facing charges of corruption has been sidelined from the party and named as its advisor. He is, of course, innocent until proven guilty.
Detrimental yes-man culture
It was the work of Loke, vice-chairman Nga Kor Ming and others that has reduced the effectiveness of DAP.
Loke is a new-generation leader who wants to get along with the Malay leadership without raising the fundamental question of the rights of non-Malays in the country.
Essentially, he is a yes-man to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Malay leadership. In other words, a leader who unquestioningly accepts the dictates of Malay hegemony.
If someone like Guan Eng had been the principal leader of the party, the situation might have been different.
In 2023, when I questioned the lack of non-Malays in the public sector, it was Loke who said that action could be taken against me. This was precisely what the party did in 2023 before the state elections.
Loke – unlike those leaders who came before him – is not a fighter for the rights of non-Malays. He is more like a bureaucrat taking orders from higher-ups of the government.
After he lost the Chennah state seat in the recent Negeri Sembilan state elections, he pulled the stunt of resigning as DAP chairman in the state.
He called for the party’s national congress on Aug. 16 to decide whether DAP should stay or leave the Madani government due to unhappiness over the lack of reforms.
Less than half of the delegates turned up, giving the party the option to stay in the Madani government and push for reforms at the same time.
From the beginning, DAP was against the granting of a pardon to incarcerated former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The impression was given that the party would break its ties with the government if a pardon was granted to Najib.
Najib was given house arrest and a penalty of RM50 mil by the Federal Territories Pardons Board with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA) acting on the advice of its members.
Without wasting time, DAP called for its CEC (Central Executive Committee) meeting to decide on the next course of action.
The outcome was pathetic, to say the least. It was only Loke who agreed to resign and not those holding ministerial, state EXCO and other positions.
Even the most vociferous DAP leaders like its vice-chairman Nga Kor Ming abstained from resigning.
Anyway, whether Loke will ultimately relinquish his position depends on his meeting with Anwar after the latter returns from his Shanghai trip.
In fact, Loke and other party leaders should have all resigned from their respective party positions.
It is crystal clear that DAP leadership under Loke has failed the party’s non-Malay supporters miserably.
Rather than resigning from their ministerial and state EXCO positions, DAP leaders should resign en bloc from their party positions immediately and without delay.
DAP needs a brand-new leadership consisting of those who are willing to fight for the rights of non-Malays while bringing about quality governance. – Sept 21, 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.
