Don’t let electoral setbacks derail the reform agenda

Charles Chia

There seems to be a growing sense of panic in the DAP leadership following recent electoral setbacks.

The Sabah result appears to have ignited calls for a referendum on fundamental political issues, while some have even begun questioning whether their decision to participate in government was a mistake.

I believe this is the wrong conclusion. The humiliating defeat in Sabah was largely due to the powerful ‘Sabah for Sabahans’ wave, and should not be read simply as a rejection of the federal government.

They should not have put themselves in such a position in the first place – as if joining the government was itself a mistake, or as if the reform strategy of the ‘Madani’ government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been fundamentally wrong.

I do not believe Anwar’s reform strategy is perfect. There have been compromises, shortcomings and disappointments. But, on balance, it is heading in the right direction.

We must also remember the condition of the country that the government inherited. Governance and institutions had been badly damaged, while the economy was recovering from Covid.

Since then, the country has had to contend with global economic uncertainty, US President Donald Trump’s tariff wars and growing geopolitical tensions, including the Iran-US conflict.

Reform under such circumstances was never going to be easy or immediate.

More importantly, the Madani government does not have a straightforward electoral mandate. It is a coalition government comprising parties with different ideologies, interests and constituencies.

Fundamental reform therefore requires negotiation, compromise and patience.

To judge the entire reform project by whether every promise has been fulfilled, and whether every change has happened quickly enough, is to misunderstand the nature of coalition government.

Electoral setbacks should certainly be studied. But they should not automatically be interpreted as a rejection of the reform agenda. The DAP leadership should educate its members on the torturous journey of reform.

The recent Negeri Sembilan state election is instructive in this respect. The DAP’s electoral performance should not simply be read as evidence that its traditional supporters have abandoned the party. The DAP continues to retain a substantial base among its core supporters.

Electoral results are influenced by turnout, local contests, candidate selection, political circumstances and the intensity of mobilisation. A disappointing result does not necessarily represent a fundamental realignment of political loyalties.

Furthermore, we should recognise that Pakatan Harapan’s setbacks in Johor and Negeri Sembilan were not necessarily an indictment of the federal government’s performance. They were also influenced by the political dynamics created by the Umno-Pas ‘symbiosis formula’ – a strategic understanding that has reshaped the contest for ethnic Malay-majority and mixed seats.

This is precisely why reformists should resist panic and frustration. Individual election results must be analysed carefully and in their proper political context before sweeping conclusions are drawn about the future of the reform movement.

The call for a referendum by the DAP to let its delegates decide whether to stay or leave the Madani government was particularly worrying.

A referendum is not automatically more democratic simply because everyone is given a vote. The wording of the question, the political climate, the campaign resources available to different sides, and the ability of outside interests to influence public sentiment can all have a profound impact on the outcome.

The Brexit experience should be a warning. David Cameron’s decision to hold a referendum was partly intended to settle a political problem within his own party. Instead, it opened the door to a highly emotional and intensely mobilised campaign. Brexit eventually won by a narrow margin – and once the result was known, there was no easy way back. It was too late for regrets.

We should therefore be very careful before turning a temporary political setback or disagreement into a referendum on a fundamental issue. Reform requires patience, political maturity and strategic thinking – not panic.

Charles Chia Yong Tai is a member of Monsoons Malaysia.

First published by Sin Chew Daily on 13 August

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