'Red lines': DAP delegates must have option to revisit 'stay-no-stay' decision
KUALA LUMPUR: Delegates voting on Sunday on whether the DAP should remain in the unity government until the end of the current parliamentary term must retain the freedom to reconsider their decision if future "red lines" are crossed, says party deputy secretary-general Ramkarpal Singh.
Delegates voting on Sunday to determine if the DAP should stay in the unity government until the end of the current parliamentary term should retain the right to reevaluate their decision if future "red lines" are crossed, according to party deputy secretary-general Ramkarpal Singh. Ramkarpal, who chairs the DAP National Legal Bureau, suggested that one potential red line could be the prospect of securing a pardon for former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Should such a situation arise, delegates should be free to reconsider the DAP's decision and support withdrawing from the government, even if they have voted in favor of staying, he stated. Ramkarpal emphasized that this flexibility should be clearly communicated ahead of the DAP's convention on August 16, irrespective of whether it is officially termed an "exit clause."
The DAP convention on Sunday will be pivotal, as it will decide the party's future for the remainder of the parliamentary term. DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, who recently lost his Chennah seat in the Negri Sembilan election, has stepped down as state chairman but remains secretary-general until Sunday's vote. Ramkarpal praised Loke for presenting the pros and cons of remaining in the government objectively, backed by independent analysis and data.
He noted that Loke's participation in a discussion on the convention agenda in Penang on August 12 was well-received and helped delegates better comprehend the matter prior to the vote. While acknowledging strong arguments for the DAP to remain in government for the remainder of the term, Ramkarpal stressed that delegates must have the freedom to revisit their decision if significant circumstances arise.
He clarified that this is crucial to avoid the misconception that voting to remain in government means staying regardless of future events that may harm the party's interests. Over 4,000 delegates are expected to cast their votes by secret ballot on Sunday regarding whether the DAP should continue in the federal unity government until the end of the current parliamentary term.
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