DAP must dispel its anti-Malay, anti-Islam image, say analysts

Analysts see DAP’s struggle to maintain Chinese support while attempting to win over Malay voters as compounded by the need to dispel the perception that it is anti-Malay and anti-Islam.

Syaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia said Malay voters had been repeatedly told since the 2018 general election, when Pakatan Harapan took Putrajaya, that DAP is anti-Islam.

She said DAP must emphatically recognise the Malays as the majority if it is to dispel its anti-Malay image.

“I understand this may be difficult because it feels like the rights of the non-Malays are decreasing. But the narrative must avoid blaming this on all Malays or labelling all Malays who support PAS as anti-Chinese or anti-Indian.

“The narrative must focus on individuals or organisations that stoke tensions,” she told FMT.

She said the best way to ensure the rights of non-Malays are preserved would be to show that the party understands the Malays.

“I know it sounds confusing. Some might even say that’s already what DAP is about, but right now the Malay community believes that DAP wants to erode Malay rights,” she said.

She was responding to DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook, who said on Sunday that the party must build support beyond its traditional base for the next general election while retaining its core Chinese support.

Loke also said the political reality in Malaysia demands consensus-building among coalition partners, and that DAP’s vision could rarely be realised in full.

James Chin of the University of Tasmania said Loke was walking a “difficult tightrope” as some wanted DAP to remain true to its Chinese roots, even as Loke was aware that the Chinese population was falling.

He said some of DAP’s “hardcore supporters” were uncomfortable with its efforts to widen its support base.

“Some of the hardcore DAP supporters are from the Chinese ground, and they do not want DAP to reach out to the Malay ground as well. They prefer DAP to be a Chinese-based party,” he told FMT.

However, Chin said if DAP does not get support from the Malay or Indian communities, “it will become smaller and smaller in the coming years”.

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