DAP is likely to adopt a strategy that allows it to remain in Pakatan Harapan while retaining some flexibility outside the coalition, an analyst says.
Wong Chin Huat of Sunway University said such an approach would allow DAP to continue working with PKR and Amanah while remaining in the opposition bloc if its allies decided to form pacts with Umno and PAS.
He said such flexibility would be important ahead of the 16th general election, as DAP would need allies capable of attracting voters from various backgrounds.
At the same time, the party would have to deal with challenges posed by Barisan Nasional (BN) and Bersatu, as well as the risk of low voter turnout if PH joined an Umno- or PAS-led coalition.
‘DAP’s preparedness to return to the opposition is important to convince the party’s hardcore voters that there are red lines it won’t cross,’ he told FMT.
‘Choosing principle over (federal) power would set it apart from the likes of MCA and Gerakan.’
Wong was commenting on DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook’s remarks on Sunday that the party did not rule out contesting the next general election on its own rather than as part of PH.
Grassroots unlikely to fear return to opposition
Separately, Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said DAP supporters and grassroots members were unlikely to be concerned about the party returning to the opposition.
He said DAP elected representatives would be more vocal in highlighting issues affecting the public, particularly the underprivileged who form part of the party’s main support base.
‘For the grassroots, the freedom to be more outspoken on such issues is far more important than becoming part of a government that would force them to compromise (on their principles),’ he said.
Fauzi said there also appeared to be a gap between DAP’s leadership and its grassroots over the formation of a unity government.
He said party leaders now had to convince supporters of the benefits of being part of a unity government to implement certain policies.
