A Wanita DAP leader has called on the party to return to its social democratic foundations, warning that neoliberal thinking has increasingly taken hold within DAP and risks weakening public support.
Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lim Yi Wei said there is a growing belief among some party leaders in trickle-down economics, where prosperity for large corporations is assumed to benefit workers, a view she said runs counter to DAP’s original principles.
“The reality is that DAP’s social democratic agenda has been overtaken by neoliberalism,” Lim said in a statement.
She pointed to instances where certain leaders opposed stronger wealth taxes, downplayed the importance of labour bargaining power, or yielded to industry pressure even when public safety and lives were at stake.
“Values may not be tangible, but they matter when we choose between highways or public transport, privatisation or universal healthcare, and institutional reform or enjoying unfair advantages while in power,” she said, adding that principles help guide long-term decisions rather than short-term political gains.
Lim also cited the recent enforcement crackdown on overloaded lorries, saying some elected representatives appeared to echo industry resistance by calling for leniency or transition periods.
“But who is accountable when preventable tragedies occur despite laws already being in place?” she asked, referring to Transport Ministry measures that could see companies lose operating licences if caught violating load limits.
The enforcement drive has drawn criticism from construction industry groups, who warned of rising costs and supply chain disruptions. DAP’s Jementah assemblyman Ng Kor Sim had also called for a review of the crackdown.
Lim, who is Wanita DAP assistant publicity secretary, said many Malaysians still look to DAP to drive meaningful reform, even as disappointment with the party grows.
While Malaysians may not be overtly class-conscious, she said more people are recognising how inequality contributes to rising living costs, reinforcing the need for DAP to recommit to its social democratic ideals.
“We cannot afford to be lukewarm or diluted. Nobody willingly chooses diet Coke — voters want the real thing,” she said.
“DAP knows how to do things right. We must not lose sight of doing the right things.”
