Should DAP amend its constitution to win Malay support?

Question

Accepted Answer

DAP's Constitutional Amendments Could Influence Malay Voter Support, According to Umno Leader

An Umno Supreme Council member has suggested that the Democratic Action Party (DAP) should amend its party constitution to enhance its appeal to Malay voters. Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed argued that such changes are necessary for the DAP to overcome perceptions of its policies being too extreme regarding a secular state and the concept of "Malaysian Malaysia," which he believes continue to alienate Malay voters. He posited that without significant reforms, both DAP and its ally Umno risk rejection by the Malay electorate in future general elections.
Constitutional Wording and Malay Perceptions

Nur Jazlan specifically pointed to clauses within DAP's constitution that describe the Federal Constitution as secular and advocate for a "secular framework as the supreme law of the land." Additionally, he highlighted an article that calls for the party to "infuse a national spirit and unity amongst all races to forge a common identity of a united Malaysian Malaysia." According to Nur Jazlan, these specific tenets are perceived by many Malays as "traumatising" and create a barrier to their acceptance of DAP's political agenda. He suggested that dropping these elements from the constitution would be a crucial step for DAP to demonstrate a tangible change to Malay voters.
The Impact of Current Stances

Despite these concerns, both DAP and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, a key figure in the unity government, have publicly affirmed their respect for the constitutional positions of Malays, Islam, and the Malay Rulers since joining the government. Nur Jazlan, however, indicated that such affirmations are insufficient to convince the Malay grassroots, particularly when contrasted with the existing constitutional language. He suggested that these perceived "extreme" views contribute to difficulties Umno faces in justifying its alliance with DAP to its own base, who may view the cooperation as a significant political sacrifice for Umno.
Potential Electoral Consequences

Nur Jazlan warned that if DAP does not implement substantial reforms to its constitutional framework, it will likely continue to face rejection from Malay voters. He further cautioned that Umno could also suffer electoral consequences due to its partnership with DAP. This situation, he elaborated, could potentially lead to a significant shift in Malay support towards PAS. Nur Jazlan envisioned a future political landscape where such dynamics could result in a divided electorate, with Chinese voters predominantly supporting DAP and Malay voters aligning with PAS.
Broader Political Allegations

The discourse surrounding DAP's constitutional stance is not new and has been a point of contention. Previously, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had alleged that the current administration under Anwar was under pressure from DAP Members of Parliament to move away from Islamic principles in favour of a secular and multi-ethnic nation, which he contended was contrary to the nation's constitutional framework of "Malayness." PAS has also consistently criticised DAP, frequently attacking its purported secular agenda and the "Malaysian Malaysia" slogan.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Should DAP amend its constitution to win Malay support?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends