Did DAP underestimate the power of communal politics?

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DAP May Have Underestimated the Impact of Communal Politics

The Democratic Action Party (DAP) appears to have underestimated the enduring power of communal politics in Malaysia, a miscalculation that has contributed to their electoral challenges. Despite having a substantial period, from its involvement in Bersih in 2007 through to the early stages of the Madani government around 2024, to potentially rebrand, the party seemingly operated under the assumption that its continued presence in government would validate its existing strategy. This strategy involved prioritising support from the Chinese community by adopting a "Chinese-first" approach, while relying on a smaller segment of votes from Malay-based coalition partners.
Sustained Communal Messaging by Opponents

For over six decades, Barisan Nasional (BN), often leveraging the power of incumbency, has consistently framed the DAP as a threat to the Malay community, primarily by highlighting its leadership in Chinese communalism. This narrative, though arguably unfair, has been a persistent feature of the Malaysian political landscape. The party was granted a significant "buffer period" to evolve, but instead, it is suggested that they falsely interpreted their return to government as an affirmation of their established methods.
Failure to Malaysianise Amidst Success

The successes experienced by the DAP over the past 15 years were intended, in part, to provide political cover for a broader effort to "Malaysianise" the party. However, this transformation seemingly never materialised. The party has remained fundamentally a "Chinese-first" entity. This persistent focus on a specific communal base, while securing a portion of votes from coalition partners, is seen as the reason it is expected to face significant losses in general elections, though it is predicted to retain a core 12.5 per cent of communal votes, preventing a complete deposit loss.
Reliance on Divisive Figures

Evidence of the party's continued reliance on communal politics is further suggested by the engagement of figures like Hew Kuan Yau, also known as Superman Hew, for campaigning. This occurs even a decade after he voluntarily departed from the DAP due to his divisive communal politics, indicating a continued, albeit perhaps unintentional, embrace of such strategies by the party. This approach mirrors the strategy employed by components of Perikatan Nasional (PN) and BN, who also prioritise communalism, alongside the less influential MCA and MIC.

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Did DAP underestimate the power of communal politics?

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