Does DAP CEC meet essential criteria?
Doubts have arisen on whether the appointment of short-lived human resources minister V Sivakumar and Buntong assemblyperson M Thulasi to the DAP CEC would boost the support of the Indian community.
To me, such a narrowing down of these two DAP leaders to ethnic support reinforces the ethnocentric dimension of Malaysian politics, which seems to be clueless about what exactly is needed to inspire a real change in the country.
The incorporation of these personalities and all those who are in the CEC should be assessed not on whether they are capable of representing a certain community, but whether they are passionately able to address issues related to social justice that transcend sectarian feelings.
Here are the following criteria that transcend the sentiments of race and religion, which are also relevant to other political parties that would want to promote the common good.
People-centric leaders
Are the people in the CEC people-centred and articulate the real needs of the people, or are they obedient to the dictates of certain leaders in the party?
Are they able to practise the freedom of conscience on critical issues affecting the life and liberty of Malaysians? Are they able to work with political opponents within and outside the party for the good of the people?
Grassroots work
Are the people in the CEC genuinely involved in grassroots issues related to services and urban poverty by engaging local and state governments?
Is there a push for local government polls, or are they finally accepting the irrationality of ethno-religious justification for denying local government elections?
Advocates for sustainability
Are CEC leadership and members doing what is right to protect the environment and pursuing sustainable practices?
What is happening in the reclamation exercises in Penang reveals the kind of leaders who adhere to neo-liberal economic ideology that is antithetical to sustainable development goals.
Advocates for workforce's poorest
Are the CEC members involved in advocating labour issues and reforms? It is rare to see DAP leaders speaking out for contract workers or migrant workers who provide services to the government and private sectors, who are not adequately represented when dealing with labour issues.
Advocates for constitutional rights
Are the CEC leadership and members articulate the objective truths related to the rule of law, human rights and the independence of the judiciary? We can't hear much from the DAP since they became part of the coalition government.
Advocates for global justice
Are CEC members genuinely concerned about issues such as the Palestinian cause, global hegemony by superpowers, and those that affect the family of nations?
I have yet to see intellectuals in the DAP who are able to articulate on global issues that have implications for developing countries, including Malaysia.
It is time for the public to assess the DAP on these criteria instead of narrowing down issues to ethnic sentiments, which merely reinforces ethnocentric politics in the country.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
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