This morning I visited Taman Cempaka market and the Pasir Puteh market together with the three elected DAP Assemblymen in Ipoh Timur parliamentary constituency – Su Keong Siong (Pasir Pinji), Wong Kah Woh (Canning) and Ong Boon Piow (Tebing Tinggi) – to thank the Ipoh Timor voters for their great support in the March 8 general election returning me as MP with a humbling majority of 21,942 votes as well as securing a DAP victory in all the three constituent assembly seats of Pasir Pinji, Canning and Tebing Tinggi with impressive majorities of 6,339, 5,666 and 2,515 respectively.

Earlier, three days ago, I had visited the Kampong Simee and Pasir Pinji markets in my thank-the-voters rounds.

In my rounds today, I received mixed reactions to the proposed DAP-PKR-PAS Perak State coalition government headed by a PAS Mentri Besar, details of which were finalized two nights ago with regard to the 6-3-2 allocation of Exco seats respectively for DAP, PKR and PAS and awaiting the holding of the swearing-in ceremony.

The mixed reactions could be divided into the following categories:

• Support;
• Conditional support with concerns about Islamisation undermining the constitutional rights of Malaysians;
• Outright opposition, regarding the DAP-PKR-PAS coalition government with a PAS MB as a betrayal of the DAP’s general election mandate.

I was asked how DAP’s support for a DAP-PKR-PAS coalition government headed by a PAS MB could square with my repeated assurances in ceramahs during the campaign trail that the DAP had no relationship or understanding with the PAS for the 2008 general election.

I was speaking the truth in the election ceramahs. Up till March 8, 2008, DAP had no relationship or links of any nature with PAS in connection with the general election, as our relationship was only with PKR.

The 2008 general election had produced a new political landscape which forced the DAP to immediately review the political situation, as the March 8 “political tsunami” had not only swept away the unbroken Barisan Nasional two-thirds parliamentary majority, it also swept away the Barisan Nasional in four states, namely Penang, Kedah, Perak and Selangor, and crushed UMNO attempt to recapture Kelantan.

In two states, however, Perak and Selangor, the voters had created a result which forced the three opposition parties, DAP, PKR and PAS to co-operate to form an alternative government as no two political parties would have sufficient majority to rule.

In Perak, DAP won 18, PKR 7 and PAS 6 seats out of a total of a 59-strong Assembly while in Selangor, PKR won 15, DAP 13 and PAS 8 seats out of a total of 56-strong Assembly.

The March 8 political tsunami was historic and unprecedented. It saw voters transcending race and religion when casting their vote, with Malay, Chinese and Indian voters casting their vote for “Change” regardless of race and religion – which is the first time in the history of Malaysian general election, making this the most memorable phenomenon and event marking the 50th anniversary of Merdeka.

As a result, the Opposition in Peninsular Malaysia is collectively more multi-racial, multi-religious and inclusive than the Barisan Nasional, having more Chinese and Indian MPs apart from having a strong representation of Malay MPs.

In a matter of hours between the end of polling at 5 pm on March 8 and the announcement of the election results by midnight, a new political landscape had replaced the old – with all political parties having to come to terms with new political realities.
Mistakes were made by political parties adapting to the sweeping changes caused by the March 8 political tsunami.

For the DAP, we have to address the changes from one of no relationship or link with PAS up till end of polling at 5 pm on March 8 to one where DAP had to decide on some form of co-operation with PAS without sacrificing our principles and policies as a direct consequence of the general election results of the people’s desire for change at both the national and state levels – particularly for the two states of Perak and Selangor.

DAP was unfairly and falsely accused of being anti-Malay and anti-Islam when DAP had reservations about a PAS Mentri Besar for the Perak DAP-PKR-PAS coalition government – which was completely baseless as DAP had supported a Malay State Assemblyman from PKR to be the Perak MB.

It is most regrettable that there are comments on my blog as well as writings by commentators misreading or deliberately distorting my very brief and straightforward comments on the Perak coalition government issue.

That PAS is the smallest of the three-party coalition government, with 6 seats as compared to DAP’s 18 and PKR’s 7, is one important factor for the DAP’s initial opposition to a PAS MB for Perak.

Another is concern about PAS’ Islamic State and hudud law policies, which are also among the key concerns of those in the latter two categories who give conditional support and those who oppose the idea of a DAP-PKR-PAS coalition government.

DAP leaders and members have to be fully aware of these concerns. Whether a DAP-PKR-PAS Perak coalition government with PAS MB succeeds or not will depend on its performance and record to demonstrate (i) that the welfare and livelihood of the people of Perak is better safeguarded and promoted than under previous Barisan Nasional state governments; and (ii) that no further Islamisation policies are introduced to the detriment of the constitutional rights of all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion.

It is time to move on into the new uncharted Malaysian political waters.