Is DAP Really Void of Policies?
Take a look at many political blogs and news sites in Malaysia such as Malaysia-Today, and you’ll find a common and constant theme regarding blogger’s comments on DAP. That it only knows how to criticise BN, and that it doesn’t offer alternative policies to BN. But is this really the case?
Although I’m a DAP supporter, I don’t believe in blindly supporting it and ignoring its weaknesses. I definitely agree that DAP has weaknesses, such as a limited number of members of Malay ethnicity (I don’t believe the Indians have a problem with it), a somewhat nepotistic streak in its ‘Lim Dynasty’ power structure, and yes, it could come up with more alternative policies to BN.
However, I do not agree with the strident criticisms of DAP by many of those bloggers and commentors in regards to the third point above. Actually, I have a defence for DAP in regards to the second criticism as well, but I’ll leave that for later.
Is DAP really devoid of its own policies? I don’t think so. Not enough? Yes. None? Nope.
A simple scroll through DAP’s archive of media releases (most which never made it on the mainstream papers) can easily reveal some of their policies. Here are some examples of them then:
1. Education
For starters, DAP is and has always been big on education on all levels, but especially on tertiary education. DAP has explicitly repeated its policy for abolishing Malaysia’s current 2-system university entrance examinations in the form of STPM and Matriculation and put in its place, only 1 single exam. They have stated, and rightly so, that having every Malaysian student go through one standard exam to vie for uni places is fairer compared to the current 2.
DAP also believes that tertiary educational opportunities should be based on a meritocratic system, instead of an affirmative action system. Although I can’t say that I agree completely with LKS’s views on this (as I prefer some sort of low-level AA policy based on a student’s socio-economic conditions), this nevertheless is another policy of DAP’s.
2. Law Enforcement
DAP advocates increasing the current size of the police personnel by 60,ooo active crime stoppers, in order to lower our poor crime-fighting police personnel to citizen ratio of 1:3250.
3. Alternatives to toll-hilkes
Instead of toll-hikes for:
(a) RM 1.42 billion Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP) with a concession period of 1996-2030, its toll rate rise from RM1 to
RM1.60, an increase of 60 percent.
(b) RM 1.3 billion Kesas Highway with a concession period of 1993-2024, the toll rate increased from RM1.50 to RM2.20, a 46.7-
percent hike.
(c) RM 336 million Cheras-Kajang Highway’s with a concession period of 1995-2026, the toll rate increased by 30 cents - a hike
of between 42.9 and 50 percent.
(d) RM 568 million Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway’s Gombak with a concession period of 1994-2032, its toll rate increased
between 20 and 25 percent; and
(e) RM 501 million Guthrie Corridor Expressway with a concession period of 2000-2035, its toll rate went up from RM1 to
RM1.40 - a 40-percent increase.
DAP suggests:
“Would not it be more economical if the government just buys over the five highways by paying the concessionaires in full for the total construction cost of RM 4,125 million?
DAP suggests a triple win solution for the nightmare of frequent toll hikes in the Klang Valley if the government buys over the 5 highways concessionaires by paying back the construction cost of RM 4,125 million. Such a move will not only save the government billions in subsidies, avoid losses to the toll operators but reduce the burden of consumers from facing unreasonable toll hikes.”
4. Political Reform
And nobody can really criticize DAP for being void of policies in regards to reforming Malaysia’s political system! In fact, DAP seem to have the most policies in that department. It advocates a directly elected Senate, instead of the current appointed Senators, which more often than not consist of BN members who failed to get elected to the Lower House. It also wants to restore mayoral and municipal elections, which has been cynically dismissed by BN on the ridiculous excuse that “The Opposition would win a lot of mayoral seats if we permit them to vote for their majors”. Loss for words here. Remind me again whether Malaysia is a ‘democratic’ or ‘dictatorial’ nation here? DAP also wants to televise parliament debates to raise the standard of the debates there.
A glance on those policies above shows a glaring weakness for the party. Namely a lack of any economic policies. However, to make things fairer for DAP in the face of its critic’s criticisms in regards to this (many which I am in agreement to as well), I will attempt to defend it now 
To me, one must be realistic when talking about DAP. Thus, even though DAP is the largest Opposition party right now, its seats of just 12 out of a possible 219, it ain’t exactly in the same position as other major Opposition parties like Labor in Australia or the Democrats in the USA. Thus, unlike those two established Opposition parties, DAP has never had and still does not really have much access to the government’s financial records, bureaucracy or the various eco0nomic sector’s financial structures. Therefore, it doesn’t really have enough knowledge on Malaysia’s tax revenues and budget to offer realistic economic policies.
Furthermore, if we go by the arguments of many critics that DAP’s advocacies of the abolishment of the ISA, OSA, UUCA, Printing Presses Act, etc is too abstract to excite the average voters with, then what makes them think that a discourse on the superiority of the Keynesian economic model over a neoclassical one would stir their voting urges? Or the benefits of union-strengthening over the union-busting? Or why the introduction of a new flat tax system would be better than the current progressive one?
When those critics say that Malaysian voters are only concerned with ‘bread and butter issues’, it really means literally means ‘bread and butter’ issues. That term doesn’t refer the economic policies, unlike what some commentors seem to think. Many voters mistakenly seem to think that the main job of federal MPs is to make sure that their rubbish are collected on time, that their drains are cleaned, and to help them find their missing daughters (who probably got dumped by her VCD-selling boyfriend soon after eloping). Those are the jobs for your dumb appointed municipal councilors la…. Blame BN then if the rubbish truck doesn’t come on time.
To put it more bluntly, the average voter is only interested in handouts, or ‘legal bribes’ in the form promising new roads, etc. Things which, because of BN being entrenched in government, the people know DAP can never be able to offer to them. So they vote BN because of the so-called ‘bread and butter’ issues. Is that really DAP’s fault then?
Therefore, I put up the notion that *gasp*, a lack of economic policies doesn’t affect DAP very much, considering the level of political sophistication of the average Malaysian voter. Therefore, I would suggest that critics should view the DAP less as a party in the same class as the Opposition Conservatives in the UK or Democrats in the USA, and more like the Liberal Democrats or Greens parties. Small parties which only champion a small number of core issues to get a particular segment of voters to vote for it. Therefore, it shouldn’t be blamed for that. After all, like how tree-huggers would get orgasms and vote for a Greens Party if it announces that it would reclaim KL and restore it into a muddy river bank again to save the frogs there, there are hardcore social justice believers and social-democratic aficionados like myself who would vote for DAP because of the issues that they champion. And yeap, despite their lack of economic clout. Hell, my belief is that they would know how to sort the economic side of things out if and when they get into power I don’t think BN had much economic experience when they took over from the British, but they did relatively fine and didn’t turn Malaysia into an economic basket-case, now did it?
Furthermore, to deconstruct the myth that BN somehow has more clout in economic matters, try to think when was the last time BN talked about reforming the tax system, or came up with policies to help small and medium enterprises? However, they do practice their own brand of social-democratic subsidisation when it can protect their own supporter’s interests (ala Proton, Malaysian Airlines), but you’ll make me laugh out my lunch if you are gonna use that as an example that BN is a better economic steward.
And thus, therein ends my vigorous defense of DAP against its numerous critics 
As per usual, feel free to civilly hentam me back if you disagree with my evaluation of DAP then. Cheers! 
hey good one.
i think DAP suffers from bad PR. hahahahhahaha. well anyway, i do think that the lib dems have more of a detailed plan than DAP ~~
well, points noted but what i would personally like to see is an actual ALTERNATIVE Development Plan (vs 9MP)+ an annual ALTERNATIVE budget.
but i agree that due to the lack of sophistication of the majority of the voters, DAP + the opposition can get away from ACTUALLY DOING MORE in formulating alternative policies.
i feel that the Opposition can do more.
also, most political strategies are multi-layered. there may be an overall stand on policy ie abolish NEP and then there will other TACTICS to woo voters via bread-and-butter issues.
however, we must not underestimate the voters’ sophistication, for some things like ISA can be put in terms that rural folks can understand, ie wrongful imprisonment without a court hearing violates islam.
so, the whole political process is a communication between the parties and the rakyat.
my main contention with DAP is that after 50 years, it did not try to be part of the government and at least put some of their beliefs into POLICIES.
so, as much i appreciate DAP’s efforts, they need to up their efforts on policy design, and implementation, or at least getting it passed as LEGISLATION.
:D
tks so much for clearing the air.
Comment by freelunch2020 — February 2, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
freelunch2020 echoes exactly how I feel about DAP and the opposition in general: there is no alternative policies or plans arising from core values that the DAP purports to hold.
For all the example of policies that the DAP has, I’d like to point out that they are merely media statements *in response to government foul-ups*.
They are allowing the government to define the discourse!
And worse, the DAP is allowing itself to be a *mirror* to UMNO and BN, rather than a party in its own right with its own identity, its own ideology, it’s own ideas - instead of currently being the foil to government antics.
The DAP seems to be transforming into an opposition for the sake of opposing…!
Comment by xpyre — February 2, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
DAP has lost its glitters.Leaders like Kit Siang & Karpal must give way to young leaders. But whats happening in DAP is that young leaders are being phased out giving way to cronyism & nepotism ala UMNO,MCA & MIC. DAP tak boleh become gomen without Malay support,thats something DAP got to think about. Like U said,”that it only knows how to criticise BN, and that it doesn’t offer alternative policies to BN” is a problem that the leaders of DAP failed to realise.Their slogan,”Malaysian Malaysia” doesnt go well with rakyat.
In short DAP got to do some rebranding exercise.
cheers
Comment by ali allah ditta — February 2, 2007 @ 4:47 pm
xpyre and freelunch have hit the nail on the head. By the way, as you requested, I’ve prepared a response. It’s not that I disagree with you for the most part - just that when I speak of policies, I speak of real bread and butter issues which will really appeal to the voters.
BN has done well because of money politics in this regard, but it isn’t too difficult to win a majority of the popular vote if (and this is a big if) the opposition manages to get its act together. The opposition has consistently won ~40% of the vote, and if it has a real plan to advance the country, a shadow cabinet that can do more than be a mirror image of BN, and can craft its policies in terms to appeal to the typical voter, it can do much better.
After all, a Californian doctor was able to convince me he can govern the country better than any of our current politicians - which says a lot about their ability. :p
Comment by johnleemk — February 3, 2007 @ 10:20 am
The problem is that DAP isn’t supposed to be a minor party like the Green Party, rather it is leading the opposition in Parliament.
The thing is that what DAP lacks, as the first commenter have pointed out, is good PR. DAP is extremely poor in communications - look at DAP’s website, for one. For one thing, the extensive use of all caps and small fonts would drive my Communications prof bonkers. Then there is the long titles - okay, fine, I’m guilty of that, but what excuse does DAP has? Headlines should be short and catchy - “Ong Ka Ting should submit a report card for his performance as Minister” isn’t.
Then there is their other promotional materials - I once saw a flyer by DAP - despite being politically-inclined, I found it hard to read. Even PAS leaflets are a easier read (hint: hard, long words don’t show you’re smart, just that you’re dense)
And the last point is DAP’s abysmal command of Malay - anything they come out in Malay just doesn’t sound eloquent. They sound like someone rushing through a translation from English - which is generally a bad thing.
Its probably a good thing there isn’t televised debates - DAP MP’s themselves are horrible in the command of BM - their counterparts in the PAP (the President, Prime Minister, Senior Minister, Minister Mentor, etc.) all have a stronger and more eloquent command of the language.
Its not to say all other parties are substantially better - in fact, the fact they are very poor (UMNO General Assembly on TV? Oh, what a bad idea..). DAP could have used this for their own advantage.
Comment by Rajan R — February 3, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
Rajan R is a racist Zionist and so he is unfit to give political suggestions, leave alone hold any political office. He needs to be arrested under the Internal Security Act and then sent to the Kamunting Detention Center for 2 years mental treatment.
Comment by menj — February 4, 2007 @ 5:49 am
johnlee: Thanks for writing up a response on this. I’ve read it and I agree with a lot of what you’ve said
Comment by sigma — February 5, 2007 @ 4:34 am
Dude, what’s wrong with this menj guy?
Trolling everyone’s blog with aggressive and provocative comments.
I think this is a symptome of LOAS (lack of attention syndrome)! Hah hah! XD
Anyway, as commented above, DAP’s PR is not doing them any good. And local newspapers always report internal fightings of DAP to lower voters’ confidence.
Their policy are affected by what BN does. This means BN even has indirect control over its policy… scary.
I would prefer if they can come up with a shadow committee/cabinet like the UK parliament. Instead of just a bunch of policies all over the place.
Comment by iamyuanwu — February 10, 2007 @ 5:20 am