THERE are no permanent friends and foes in politics. New alliances and enemies can be made in the blink of an eye in the Malaysian political landscape.
However, the guiding principles behind the decision to admit former foes as friends and to cast aside long-time friends should remain intact.
This is what separates political pragmatism with opportunistic political moves.
Thus, the rise of former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, 93, as opposition leader can be understood as a political move by DAP and PKR.
There is opposition in the two parties to Dr Mahathir’s transformation from sworn enemy to saviour, but the voices of dissent were allayed by stating that he was fighting along the same principles as PKR and DAP to topple the Barisan Nasional government.
However, the notion that service to the people is the guiding principle of DAP in accepting the leadership of Dr Mahathir holds no water when it was revealed that the party had dropped eight-term Kepong member of parliament Dr Tan Seng Giaw from contesting in the 14th General Election (GE14).
The decision not to field Dr Tan sounded the death knell of the “service to the people” principle that DAP held dear.
Dr Tan had served the people of Kepong for 36 years and had suffered with Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng and other opposition leaders during Dr Mahathir’s time.
Shouldn’t Dr Tan’s service for eight terms be taken into account? Instead of appreciating his services, Dr Tan was humiliated by the very party that he had served.
All just because his personal principles differed from party supremo Kit Siang.
Not so long ago, Dr Tan had revealed that the spirit of serving the people, inculcated in members by party pioneer Dr Tan Chee Khoon, had waned in DAP.
This latest move is a slap to the DAP leadership, which has been trumpeting populist slogans.
While DAP and the opposition pact have no qualms about accusing Umno and BN of defending Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, above their duty to uphold the people’s interests, DAP is doing far worse.
It appeared that Kit Siang and his party had allegedly dragged Dr Tan’s name through political muck despite his service to the people and the party.
The blind loyalty to Kit Siang had compelled DAP to justify his actions by hiding behind democratic slogans.
It was rumoured that Lim Lip Eng, who represented DAP in Segambut, will replace Dr Tan in Kepong for GE14.
If that is true, then Lip Eng will leave Segambut with many unsettled issues.
Of course, it is easy for DAP to just ignore the people’s issues in Segambut just as easily as it cast Dr Tan aside.
After all, the people are mere pawns on DAP’s chessboard as it prepares for GE14.
S.J.
Kuala Lumpur