Non-Malays unlikely to return to DAP even if it leaves govt, says Ramasamy

Urimai chairman P Ramasamy has stated that DAP is unlikely to regain the trust of non-Malay voters, even if it decides to leave the government. The former deputy chairman of DAP highlighted that despite holding 40 parliamentary seats and five ministerial positions, the party has failed to bring about meaningful change for non-Malays since being in power.

In a Facebook post, Ramasamy expressed his belief that non-Malays would not warm up to the party, irrespective of whether DAP remains in the government or steps out of the Pakatan Harapan-led coalition. Ramasamy argued that merely removing DAP from the government would not transform it from what he described as a 'pliant' party into a more assertive one.

The Urimai chief's comments came in the context of DAP's upcoming August 16 congress, where a significant number of delegates are expected to vote on whether the party should continue to be part of the government or not. Ramasamy predicted that the delegates would likely vote to stay in government, albeit possibly with certain conditions, as leaving could negatively impact DAP's chances of being part of the next administration.

He claimed that DAP's leadership has become more accommodating to what he described as "Malay hegemonic interests" since joining the government, and that the party has become less vocal on issues concerning the Chinese and Indian communities. Ramasamy also cited DAP's electoral setbacks in several states, including Sabah, Johor, and Negeri Sembilan, as evidence that the party had reached a critical juncture.

However, he emphasized that DAP's problems extend beyond the question of whether it should remain in the government, pointing to generational, ideological, and structural changes that have affected how the party operates. "The party had a chance but blew it after it became ensconced in the entrapment of power, positions and perks," Ramasamy concluded.