In the 1960s, the DAP openly and clearly accepted the Internal Security Act, even though it was and would continue to be abused to punish none other than the DAP leadership itself. Why? Because we had to fight the communists. DAP put Malaysia's needs ahead of political expediency.
In December 1997, the DAP had clearly but reservedly supported the economic measures of Dr Mahathir Mohamad over the prescriptions of the IMF even though the former was its bitter political nemesis, and with an election approaching it would have scored points for opposing the policies of a prime minister who steered the country into economic hardship.
Why? Because we had to get Malaysia back on track without embracing the IMF's brutal terms and conditions. Once again, DAP put Malaysia's needs ahead of political expediency.
And so it is fitting that the party, in its contemporary form, has embraced the mantra of “Malaysian First”. You can't have “Malaysian First” without putting Malaysia first, which relegates Pakatan Rakyat to a lower rung on the podium of priority.
In neither of the above two examples was it clear at the time that the decision being made by the DAP was the correct decision - only history has vindicated them. However, the common theme is, in both situations, the DAP had opted for sober and stately policies that reveal a worthy aspiring government.
And that is why the DAP will not support the toppling of the federal government. If there is to be a change of federal government, it will occur through the ballot box in accordance with long-standing political cycles which allow governments to operate effectively, not through back door dealings, under table payoffs, political flirting and whispers and unspoken nods and calculated winks of knowing quid-pro-quo. Basically, all the very worst that politics has to offer, and the reason people get so jaded and turned off by politics in the first place, resigning themselves to the timeless adage that ‘all politicians are the same’.
And so, unless Anwar Ibrahim has 70 BN MPs ready to cross over, September 16 will come and go, and hopefully as it goes, so too will go Malaysia's extended silly season. Yet another public holiday? Weren't we told by Hindraf and its allies to disregard and even be insulted when Thaipusam was made a holiday?
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