Another strategic faux pas from DAP: Giving deadlines when it is still under incessant attack — Phar Kim Beng
AUG 17 — DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo has called for several important institutional reforms to be expedite...
On August 17, DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo called for important institutional reforms to be expedited by the end of 2026, including amendments to the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 and the Peaceful Assembly Act. While these reforms align with Pakatan Harapan's reform agenda, the strategic method employed by DAP merits closer examination.
Despite choosing to remain in the Unity Government until the end of the parliamentary term, DAP's public imposition of deadlines appears problematic. The distinction between setting reform targets internally versus publicly imposing deadlines on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the Unity Government is crucial, particularly in the current political climate where DAP faces incessant attacks.
DAP is not the sole authority in the Federal Government; the Unity Government's structure makes domination by any single party nearly impossible. Moreover, Anwar's lack of sufficient parliamentary votes to enforce sweeping legislative or constitutional changes further complicates the situation. For major reforms, the government must secure a working parliamentary majority, and constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority, making numerical support from various political factions essential.
By publicly demanding specific deadlines, DAP risks placing the political burden on Anwar, who must negotiate intensively with the BN and other components of the Unity Government before reforms gain the necessary parliamentary support. This approach could weaken Anwar's negotiating position rather than strengthen it. DAP should consider challenging Perikatan Nasional (PN) to embrace the reforms as well, as PN politicians aspire to become the next government.
If reforms genuinely aim to strengthen Malaysian democracy, they should not be limited to the Unity Government's boundaries. PN, in particular, should support these reforms to ensure their durability beyond the current government's tenure. By engaging BN, Sabah and Sarawak parties, and PN in the reform discussion, DAP can shift the political burden and broaden the support for meaningful reforms.
This strategy would position DAP for greater success in the long term, rather than imposing unrealistic deadlines on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
