Dap Needs A Soul Searching Exercise

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AS DAP gears up for its highly anticipated central executive committee (CEC) elections there is a need for soul searching and reflection among its leaders and members on substantial issues within the party and the country.
The DAP assembly should not be merely about electing a committee. It should be a platform for substantive consultation on the party’s future in the context of sharing power with coalition partners and the expectation of Malaysians for institutional and judicial reforms.
There is also a dire need to address intense factionalism in the party where win all and take all attitude seems to prevail.
In Perak, for example, dissenters seem to ultimately leave the party or those who stay will be sidelined.
It is in this context of intense factionalism that one has to understand why certain veteran leaders have pulled out of the election race.
A conscientious leadership would strive to create a balance between governing and dissenting views in the party so that real issues are not swept under the carpet with opportunistic alliances.
As for the country, the DAP leadership has to reflect on what they are going to present to their urban supporters in terms of reforms in the next general election since there have been contradictory policies emerging from the unity government since the last general election.
The question is, has the DAP, who have been part of the unity government with the higher numbers of parliamentary seats, able to influence the government on institutional and judicial reforms?
What has been achieved so far, and have the core leaders of the party been in touch with the sentiment of the common people who voted for reforms?
If answers to the above questions are in the negative it is vital for DAP leadership to break away from a coalition with UMNO and PKR in the next general election so that the party will not be seen as compromising its principles for the sake of power. 
Ronald Benjamin is a human resources practitioner based in Ipoh. He is currently secretary of the Association for Community and Dialogue.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.

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