Opinion | When DAP Did a ‘Shareton’ of Their Own: Who Met Whom, and Why It Matters

When Abah Muhyiddin Yassin (a.k.a. Mr. Emergency Declaration himself) can pull a “Sheraton Move” out of thin air, don’t be shocked if DAP does their own version let’s call it the "Share-ton Move." No hotel buffet this time. This was a political potluck no kuih, just cold strategy served with hot irony.

So, who met whom?

Recently, DAP members sat down with UMNO folks. Yes, you read that right. The same UMNO that once accused DAP of being the mastermind of every national disaster (except maybe the haze). Now they’re smiling across the table like distant cousins at a kenduri.

Some people call it betrayal. Others say it's maturity. Some uncles at the mamak just shook their heads and mumbled, "Eh, semua sama je."

But let’s take a step back. To understand why this meeting is both shocking and perfectly logical, we need to look at DAP’s history.

DAP in the Wild (2008 - 2018):

Back in the late 2000s, DAP was the party your local newspaper wouldn’t even show in a group photo.

• No TV interviews.
• No radio voice.
• No paper mention unless it’s some spicy accusation from the other side.

You could be a hardworking ADUN, fixing drains and fighting corruption still, the only time you’d see your face in mainstream media was when someone called you a "threat to Malays."

The irony? These accusations came from the very people they now call coalition partners. Yes, politics in Malaysia is the original K-drama enemies become lovers, lovers become traitors, and everyone has a plot twist.

Blog First, Then Breakfast

With media censorship tighter than your grandmother's Tupperware lid, DAP members went digital:

• Personal blogs.
• Facebook updates.
• WhatsApp forwards that looked like amateur press statements.

DAP politicians like Lim Kit Siang, Gobind Singh, and Teo Nie Ching built online followings before it was cool. They had no other choice. Even the official DAP website got blocked now and then.

And when they did speak up? Boom. Sedition Act. Some were charged. Others were dragged to court. It was the political equivalent of being told to keep quiet while being punched.

Pushed to the Wall Then Renovated It

Yet, they didn’t disappear. They organised. They educated. They recruited. And they waited. Like true Malaysians waiting for durian season with patience and strategy.

In 2018, DAP finally made it to federal power, thanks to a strange-bedfellows marriage with Tun Mahathir. But if you think Mahathir mellowed in his golden years, think again.

Even while leading the government, he occasionally threw DAP under the bus and sometimes reversed and ran over them again. But DAP stayed the course.

Did they launch a Chinese takeover? Nope. Did they burn the Constitution? Not even close. They sat in Cabinet, pushed for reforms, and tried to clean up a system that was so dirty it made Sungai Klang look clear.

DAP's Quiet Contribution: Empowering Voters

One often-overlooked contribution of DAP was their consistent push to register Malaysians as voters. At nearly every campaign, ceramah, or gathering, there was always a small booth tucked at the corner with volunteers patiently helping people check their voting status or register on the spot.

I know this because I was one of them. Me, my old laptop, a USB stick with SPR links, and a wobbly internet connection. No fanfare. No payment. No fancy food. In fact, there was food — but only for the big shots. I, a humble vegetarian, only had air and determination.

But I didn’t complain. Because I wasn’t there for nasi briyani I was there for the future of Malaysia.

These were the unseen efforts. DAP's drive to empower everyday Malaysians quietly helped shape the massive voter turnout in GE14 and GE15. That, too, is nation-building.

Round 2: The Comeback Tour

Fast-forward to today. DAP is back in federal government, this time under PMX (Anwar Ibrahim), and yes now officially working with UMNO.

Suddenly, UMNO says, "Oh, DAP not so bad." And DAP says, "Let’s focus on nation-building."

You can almost hear the rakyat go: “Aik?”

Why This Meeting Matters (Even If It Feels Weird)

Let’s get one thing straight: democracy is not a fairy tale. There’s no happily-ever-after, only ongoing negotiations.

So yes, DAP meeting UMNO feels strange. Like seeing your ex at your cousin’s wedding and ending up in the same group photo. But that’s what mature politics looks like. Or at least, it’s what we hope mature politics looks like.

Aim Must Constant

Despite everything, DAP’s core mission remains the same:

• Equal rights for all Malaysians.
• Transparency and accountability.
• A Malaysia that doesn’t operate on race quotas but on real merit.

Whether they achieve that now with their old enemies? That’s the real test.

But Aren’t DAP Supporters Angry?

Some are.

• They remember the years of slander.
• They remember UMNO rallies shouting anti-DAP slogans.
• They remember being called "pendatang" in their own country.

But others understand that if you want change, you can’t just shout from the outside forever. Sometimes, you need to sit at the table even if the tablecloth still smells like old corruption.

A Quick Look: Then vs Now

Justice Cannot Wait

Before moving forward, there is a name that cannot be forgotten: Teoh Beng Hock.

DAP, whoever you partner with, please do not sideline his legacy. He died under deeply suspicious circumstances while under MACC custody in 2009. You came to federal power in 2018 that was 20 years after your movement into the mainstream. Don't make this a 40-year wait for justice.

For many Malaysians, Teoh's case is not just a personal tragedy; it's a symbol of the urgent need for institutional reform, justice, and accountability. You owe it to him and to us to keep that promise alive.

One More Thing: What About Indian Issues?

Since everyone’s talking unity now, let’s not forget the group that keeps getting quietly side-stepped the Indian community.

“We’ll fund Tamil schools.” Still leaking roofs.

“We’ll support Indian SMEs.” Unless it rains then the forms go missing.

Every manifesto came with sweet words like “empower” and “uplift.” But for many Indians, it’s felt more like “ignore and ghost” after elections.

DAP, PKR, Unity Gang whoever’s in charge now, just a reminder:

We remember what you promised. We’re still waiting.

A Note to Readers

More on this in the next article no filter, just facts.

Names, stats, and broken promises coming soon.

Keep an eye on this page and maybe forward it to your MP.

The Real Question: What Now?

It’s easy to get distracted by who met whom. The more important question is:

What are they doing for you?

Are prices going down? Are your children getting quality education? Is the government fixing potholes and not just TikTok?

DAP must now show they’re not just comfortable with power they’re committed to the people who gave them that power. And that includes:

• Fighting for minority rights, without fear.
• Pushing reform agendas, even when unpopular.
• Calling out corruption, even when it's within the new family.

Written by Annan Vaithegi

More interested in who’s building bridges than who’s still throwing stones. Also available for teh tarik, minus the drama.

Annan Vaithegi (annanvaithegi@icloud.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!

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