DAP: Dynastic or Dynamic?

Having attended the first day of the two-day National Congress, I feel DAP is both.

As the results of the CEC elections have shown, both father and son teams of Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng and Karpal Singh and Gobind Deo were elected. It may seem fodder for critics of nepotism and of political dynasties, I think both sons have shown their outstanding abilities in emulating their fathers. Both LKS and KS have sacrificed much for the party and their sons chose to follow their footsteps in fighting for universal causes, which were not a bed of roses. Compare this with those in Umno with their power, positions and immense wealth and you will see the difference.

While acknowledging the sacrifices of the old, some able new leaders were chosen as well. The last general elections have shown the effectiveness of the new strategies adopted as well as the need to compromise in order to achieve greater success with the other Pakatan members.

The highlight of the dinner was the well known story of Lim Guan Eng – ‘From Kajang to Komtar’. Who would have thought that a prisoner could become the Chief Minister of Penang? Anyone who had watched the video clip of the rally at a stadium before the GE 2008 would have no doubt of the political tsunami that swept the country, Penang in particular.

Lim Guan Eng said he fought on because of the sacrifices of those who supported him and his cause and he just could not let them down. He said DAP members and supporters used to be ridiculed by others but now they are respected. Some husbands got scolded by their wives because of attending DAP events but now they can even bring along their wives!

With the latest high profile entry of Tunku Aziz into DAP, it is a sure sign that more Malays could overcome the psychological barrier of joining it. The immediate reaction was that Tunku Aziz loses his independence by joining a political party a perception which is inevitable. But the more important thing is that DAP managed to convince him to do so. Was it because he was pressured into writing something against Anwar?