The Lim’s DAP

By Xu Guo Wei
Nanyang Siang Pau 1 December 2015

Netizens’ creativity in their comments and remarks on current issues are often sharp like razor. One of them is the teasing of DAP under the leadership of Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng as “The Lim’s DAP” which means the Lim father and son dominating DAP.

In fact, such remark has existed for a long time.

Hew Kuan Yau, nicknamed “Superman” in DAP, wrote in chapter 6 (Lim Kit Siang’s rule and factionalism in DAP) of his book on DAP that in the local political arena, there is a saying: Lim Kit Siang is DAP and DAP is Lim Kit Siang.

The book was launched in 2007.

The time can be backtracked to about year 2000. It was a popular joke then. Someone asked in DAP, is the chairman greater or the secretary-general? The answer is neither. It depends on which position Lim Kit Siang is holding. That position will be most powerful.

The joke came with some background. It was the 1999 General Election where DAP, PAS and PKR formed an alternative front. DAP suffered humiliating defeat. Lim Kit Siang lost his seat. He resigned the secretary-general post to be the DAP chairman. Kerk Kim Hock took over the position as secretary-general.

In 2015 today, if such joke is recycled again by swapping “Lim Guang Eng” with “Lim Kit Siang”, the joke still applies.

Interesting point is Hew has analyzed Lim Kit Siang using authority to rule the party. He also touched on Lim Kit Siang as a dominant leader. Lim Kit Siang does not allow any measure to challenge him. He alternates “protection” and “elimination of the opposition” in handling factions and adopts the practice of siding one faction at state level as the means to control the other faction.

Emphasis on factionalism, lack of fairness in rewards and punishment

He also touches on Lim facing all sorts of criticisms. Due to his character of thinking highly of himself, apart from being high-handed, he also guards on his contemporaries not to outshine him.

“Lim Kit Siang takes into consideration of balancing factionalism flight more than accountability.

This leads to unfair treatment meted out on rewards and punishment. Those who are committed to democratic reform often opt to leave DAP if they are unable to condone Lim Kit Siang’s headstrong behavior and the vicious factionalism fight in political culture. “

This is the comments by “Superman” in weighing Lim Kit Siang’s contribution more than his mistakes. The sentence is taken from the part where he dealt with Lim Kit Siang’s negative side.

Those observant friends may have noticed that if you swap the name in the sentence from Lim Kit Siang to Lim Guan Eng, this seems to be right too.

Are their characters hereditary or due to being groomed by the father that the strategy used to rule the party by two generations are so similar?

The DAP today is no longer an ignorant party. It does not only have lots of MPs and state assemblymen, it also owns the resources of running a state. The party is full of talents and ambitious in eyeing the chance to rule.

This is no longer the opposition party using guerilla warfare tactic to fight due to limited resources available and to be alert of enemies as well as traitor in the party. The DAP now is prepared to enter Putrajaya, advocate democracy, freedom, justice and fairness to overturn Barisan Nasional, initiate reform on mandate and expectation given by the people.

Internet era easy to slap your own face

If Lim Kit Siang has to resort to authoritarian and tough stand even to the extent of being labelled as a dictator to run the party then, it is due to the time and environment then. Using the method of focusing power at central level to lead DAP till today or else it would have been toppled.

On this part, he has merits. But is the DAP today still resorting to Lim Kit Siang’s method and even better strategy than Lim Kit Siang’s?

As civic awareness is gaining weight, in a modern society where information is easily circulated via internet, power held by leaders is gradually collapsing. Are they still being idolized? The more power and responsibility a political leader has, if he continues to be arrogant, think highly of himself, latch on to power and strategies, create factions, he may still be untouchable in the party.

But in the era of new media and internet, as political leaders are subjected to criticisms and monitoring by civic society and netizens, chances for them to slap on their own faces are getting higher.

To the Lim’s DAP, are you mentally ready?

Original Source:
林主行动党