DAP's co-operation with PAS is a marriage of convenience

For the country like Malaysia that supposedly prides itself for its multiracial make-up, one can be forgiven for feeling obliged that the major parties existed are race-based parties.

In the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, only the Malays can be members of UMNO, the Chinese in the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), and the Indians in the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC). Although all races can be members of Gerakan, but it still perceived as Chinese dominant party. On the other hand, there are no membership restrictions based on one’s race to joining PKR and DAP.

Ironically, DAP is founded on secular social democratic principles and the ideology of DAP is Malaysian Malaysia but it can not move pass being a party for Chinese, still perceived to racially fanatic Chinese-based party which fights for a secular state. Whereas PAS is founded on religious conservatism and with its Islamic ideology wanting to form an Islamic state is the ultimate aim. PAS and DAP are of two extreme end of the right wing racial spectrum.

Although DAP, PAS and KeADILan formed the coalition Pakatan Rakyat, but they are still swimming about in the pool of contradicting ideologies. They will never reconcile on the political ideological grounds, bar the fact that they both want to be in power.

In last general election, paradoxically, it is because of the Anwar phenomenon that caused the forming of Islamic state was not mentioned in the PAS manifesto, neither to turn Perak into an Islamic state later. The struggles of two parties are on opposite ends of the ideological spectrum with PKR in between, thus can be seen as marriage of convenience.

A lot of criticism has been directed toward those three parties, and some of them are said to be justified especially the issue of DAP's co-operation with PAS. Those who look at things through racially tinted lenses, and spit out provocative rhetoric based on stereotype and prejudice should be criticized. But the political scenario implication of believing that DAP had compromised the principle and stand for a secular state, Lim Kit Siang has become an agent of Nik Aziz and a spokesman of PAS for the establishment of an Islamic State are deep-rooted in non-Malay society. DAP being perceived as no longer subscribed to its ideology.

Ironically, playing racial politics is a no-brainer for DAP, and it negates the need for the party to find its niche in denying the irrelevancy frequently portrayed.

The serious questions arise, why do DAP and PAS exist? Do they exist to only look after the welfare of a particular race? Will the difference in ideologies enhance the co-operation between DAP and PAS? Will race-based parties are undesirable? Are Malaysians comfortable voting race-based parties into power or otherwise? Will the forming of Pakatan Rakyat perceived that DAP is no longer relevant?

While I am only aware, in the eyes of the Chinese, they rather get their nipples frozen off than get a religious fanatic from PAS for being a MB in Perak and with minor variation, the same principle apply in many areas beyond writing and speaking.