SOMETIMES, the wisest political decision is not the loudest one and sometimes knowing when not to pull the plug can be more important than knowing when to do so. That, to me, is precisely what the DAP delegates demonstrated at their special congress yesterday.
An overwhelming 1,857 of them voted for the party to remain in the federal government until the end of the current parliamentary term. Of the 2,223 delegates who attended, only 242 voted for DAP to leave, while seven ballots were spoilt, meaning 88.2 per cent of the votes cast favoured staying.
And frankly, I believe the delegates have made the right choice. They have chosen political maturity over political drama, stability over uncertainty and, most importantly, the interests of the country over the temptation to create another political crisis.
Let us be honest: Malaysia has had more than enough political upheaval in recent years. We have witnessed governments changing, coalitions collapsing, politicians changing sides and the nation repeatedly being dragged into political calculations when we simply wanted our government to govern.
Enough is enough, I say. Let the MADANI Government complete the mandate given to it by the people, and when the time comes, let Malaysians decide its fate through the ballot box.
That is how democracy is supposed to work. Governments should not be brought down because one component party becomes unhappy, because another coalition sees an opportunity, or because political strategists believe the timing is favourable for a snap election; governments should ultimately be judged and changed by the voters themselves.
The DAP delegates have understood this fundamental democratic principle. Their decision has removed one major source of uncertainty hanging over Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration and given the Prime Minister something extremely valuable at this stage of his tenure: time.
It is, in many ways, a lifeline thrown to Anwar. More importantly, it is a second chance for him and his administration to demonstrate that the promises made before the 15th General Election were not merely campaign rhetoric but commitments that can still be translated into meaningful action.
Anwar now has roughly another year and a half, depending on when the next general election is called, to make good on as many of those promises as possible. He has repeatedly said Malaysians want stability, economic growth and a government focused on governing rather than endless politicking, and the DAP’s decision has now strengthened the opportunity to do precisely that.
So, Mr PMX, the ball is very much in your court. The DAP delegates have given you the breathing space you need, and the most appropriate response is not another round of political rhetoric but delivery.
Deliver on the reforms that can still be delivered. Deliver on the economic promises that can improve the lives of ordinary Malaysians, address the cost of living, strengthen institutions, restore confidence and ensure that the benefits of economic growth reach the people who need them most.
Nobody expects a grand coalition as diverse as the MADANI Government to fulfil every promise contained in every party’s manifesto. Even within such a broad coalition, compromises are inevitable, and as PKR leaders themselves have acknowledged, no single party can expect to implement its entire manifesto in a coalition made up of parties with different ideologies and priorities.
But there is still a substantial difference between not being able to fulfil everything and failing to fulfil enough. The Pakatan Harapan (PH) has an opportunity to narrow that gap before GE16 arrives.
This is also where I believe the DAP delegates deserve credit. They were not oblivious to the party’s problems, nor were they blind to the criticism directed at the government.
Indeed, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke had himself acknowledged that the party needed to respond to electoral setbacks and that its participation in government had involved political trade-offs. He also made the important point that governing is different from being in opposition: once a party chooses to remain in government, its responsibility is to govern, deliver and keep the country moving forward.
The delegates have therefore chosen to stay inside the tent and fight for their policies from within. That gives them a platform to influence decisions, raise concerns in Cabinet and push for reforms rather than simply shouting from outside the government.
And let us consider the alternative for a moment. Had the DAP decided to withdraw its leaders from government, the immediate consequence would have been another major bout of political uncertainty. Who would benefit from that? Certainly not ordinary Malaysians who are trying to pay their bills, run their businesses, find jobs and raise their families.
There will undoubtedly be some in the UMNO and PAS circles who are disappointed by the DAP decision. Some may have quietly hoped that DAP would walk away, triggering a fresh political confrontation and perhaps opening the door to an early GE16.
But politics is not supposed to be about satisfying the wishes of one political camp or another. It is supposed to be about what serves the nation, and at this particular juncture, political stability is surely preferable to another round of political uncertainty.
I have always maintained, whenever I discuss politics with journalists and politicians, including my friends in DAP, UMNO and PAS, that it is better to deal with the devil you know than the devil you do not know. We know Anwar, we know his strengths, we know his weaknesses, we know how his administration has worked and, importantly, we know what to expect from him.
Do we know with the same certainty how an UMNO-PAS alliance would govern Malaysia politically and economically? Frankly, I do not think we do. Both parties have their own political agendas, their own constituencies and their own priorities, and while political alliances can certainly be forged, history teaches us that marriages of convenience do not necessarily make durable partnerships.
An UMNO-PAS arrangement may look attractive to some today, but politics is never that simple. What begins as an alliance of convenience can eventually be tested by differences over leadership and the distribution of political influence.
That uncertainty is precisely why I would rather see the present government complete its mandate. Let Anwar finish what he started, let his Cabinet deliver what it can, and then let the people judge the results.
Interestingly, Anwar himself has repeatedly rejected calls for an early dissolution of Parliament, saying the government has a mandate until the next election and that Malaysians want stability and economic growth rather than constant political campaigning.
Now the DAP has effectively reinforced that position. Barisan Nasional, too, has publicly reaffirmed its commitment to the unity government until the end of the current Parliament. The message should therefore be unmistakable: stop talking about bringing the government down and start talking about making the government work.
The DAP delegates have done their part. They have thrown Anwar a lifeline, perhaps even a God-sent second chance, and I sincerely hope PMX recognises the significance of what has happened. He should not waste it.
There is still time to repair what needs repairing, accelerate what has been too slow, fulfil what remains unfulfilled and demonstrate to Malaysians that the Madani Government deserves another look when GE16 finally arrives.
The final verdict, however, must belong to the people. Not DAP, not UMNO, not PAS, not PKR, not Bersatu and not any political strategist sitting in a party headquarters. It must belong to the Malaysian voter. So let the government govern. Let Parliament function, let the economy grow, let reforms continue and let Anwar use the time given to him wisely.
When GE16 eventually arrives, let Malaysians take out their pencils, mark their ballot papers and deliver their verdict. That is democracy.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at rajlira@gmail.com
