The recent statement by the Local Government Development Minister, Nga Kor Ming, has sparked discussions regarding the priority of local council elections in Malaysia.
Nga confirmed that his ministry does not prioritize these elections, refusing support for the proposal put forth by his colleague Tan Kok Wai, who is the Kuala Lumpur (KL) DAP federal territory chairman and Cheras MP. Tan had called for the introduction of local council elections, beginning with KL.
However, his proposal faced criticism from Malay nationalists who argued that such elections would not benefit the Malays but rather the non-Malays, especially the Chinese.
Their concern was that since the Chinese population dominates urban areas, local government elections could complicate the racial dynamics within the country. Interestingly, these Malay nationalists failed to consider why Malay political parties in the Malay heartlands are also unenthusiastic about local government elections.
This raises the question: What is truly at the root of this fear? Is it a fear of democracy or an apprehension of a perceived influence of the Chinese community? While it may be understandable why the Malay nationalists hold their position, it is puzzling that no leaders from within DAP or PKR have come forward to support Tan's idea.
Even his own colleagues in DAP have remained silent, failing to rally behind his democratic proposal. This lack of support from within DAP is disheartening and uncharacteristic of the party. The concept of local government elections used to be a top priority for the party, with its election campaigns consistently raising the issue. However, as the party gained power and positions, the political landscape seemed to have changed dramatically.
Tan's frustration in raising the matter may be a result of this shifting environment, and unfortunately, he found no support within his own party. Left defenseless against the nationalists' attacks, the party that he had grown with completely abandoned him. It is disappointing to see Nga, who is also the national vice-chairman of DAP, failing to stand up for his colleague.
Instead, he undermined Tan's proposal by stating that local government elections are not a government priority. Perhaps Nga should clarify what the government's priorities are. Are they focused on enjoying the benefits of power and positions? Is DAP, with its 40 MPs, merely playing a secondary role in the unity government? Ultimately, this issue extends beyond Tan's specific proposal for local council elections or Nga's dismissal of their priority.
It speaks to the shifting political trajectory of DAP, a party that once stood for democracy and justice in the country. By avoiding critical principled issues, the party seems to be abandoning its former ideals, and this gradual transformation should be a matter of concern.
Source: Link
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