Tunku Aziz not the reason Malays join DAP
Umno’s excitement at Tunku Aziz’s exit from DAP is grossly miscalculated and has not triggered the ‘expected’ exodus of Malays from the opposition party.
Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz, Free Malaysia Today
Umno’s hope that Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim’s exit from DAP would serve as the catalyst prompting other Malays in DAP to do likewise has crumbled.
Indeed, Tunku Aziz’s action has reinforced the determination of Malays who joined DAP to stay put despite his U-turn.
It has perhaps only now dawned on Umno that people adopt a certain political stand not because of loyalty to a figure. Such loyalty is ephemeral.
You will see that soon – as soon as Umno president Najib Tun Razak performs worse than his predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
But the real issue in my mind, is not about Tunku Aziz’s departure from DAP at all. It’s all about Umno seeing this as a chance to revive its own diminishing legitimacy.
How many times have I said that Umno cannot claim it is representing the Malays. In 2008, Umno candidates got only two million of the 5.7 million votes.
That’s a clearer sign that Umno is no longer relevant to Malays than Tunku Aziz’s exit from DAP as suggesting that DAP is not compatible with Malays.
Like Umno’s favorite line when interpreting Tunku Aziz’s exit, the exodus of Malays from the Umno mothership can only mean that Malays are no longer compatible with Umno.
If you are eager to arrive at such a conclusion from Tunku Aziz’s exit, then you must apply the same line of reasoning and accordingly, the conclusion regarding Umno.
Umno’s new media darling
If you can’t, then see Tunku Aziz’s departure as it really is – the departure of one man who realises now that changing something cannot happen within a self-imposed time frame.
Just like Tunku Aziz’s sudden eureka moment that (Prime Minister) Najib Tun Razak’s transformation takes time, that same logic must be applied to whatever Tunku Aziz wishes to happen to DAP.
Except the problem with Tunku Aziz is that the changes that he wants in DAP must take place NOW, but the changes that Najib is touting MUST be given a chance to take place.
Why not the same treatment?
Since leaving DAP, Tunku Aziz has become Umno media’s darling. He has been described as the Malay face that DAP can use to attract more Malays. What rubbish.
Malays who joined DAP did not even include Tunku Aziz in their equation.
With due respect to Tunku Aziz, he was an unknown political entity.
It’s absolutely not true that DAP wanted to use Tunku Aziz as the face that would entice Malays into joining DAP.
I find that offensive. The Malays who joined DAP find some resonance with the values and struggles which DAP espouses.
