When Zairil Khir Johari decided to get active in politics in 2010, he surprised many people by choosing to join DAP, given that his late father, Mohamad Khir Johari, was a prominent Umno veteran. He explained then that he was prompted by a deep disappointment with Umno’s 50-year rule. He said he felt that Umno had become a party that oppressed Malaysians.
Recently, the Bukit Bendera MP talked with FMT on several issues. Here is a condensed account of that interview.
Reasons for joining DAP:
In DAP, the youth are empowered, given opportunities to contribute, to bring new ideas and to prove themselves. The progressive way forward is not race-based politics, but the pursuit of a Malaysian Malaysia. I wanted to belong to an organisation that is consistent in performance, not one which flip flops.
On convincing Malays that DAP is not composed of Chinese who wish to turn Malaysia into another Singapore:
Malays should visit Penang and see for themselves. Do not listen to media spin. We are willing to engage and share knowledge and information. Give us a chance. People still come to me and ask, “Is it true you ban the azan in Penang? Now, that is Umno propaganda for you.”
Countering the Chinese-centric image of DAP:
We have proven that development can benefit everyone, but we are up against Umno-controlled media organisations that spin stories to make all our efforts seem aimed at benefiting a specific racial group. What we do they don’t report, what we don’t do, they make up.
What he has learnt from five years of being active in politics:
I’ve encountered both the good and bad of politics. I see the potential to change people’s lives. On the other hand, there’s the abusive politics practised mainly by Umno, manifested in personal attacks and a very apparent racist approach.
On his resounding election victory:
It is a combination of many factors, such as my identity, my affinity with my father, my party, myself, the things I believed in and my capabilities.
On how his business career prepared him for politics:
I ran a small company for a few years and I became familiar with problems faced by workers, such as low skills, low wages, social problems. Dealing with customers and suppliers, the ordinary rakyat and corporate customers, required basic communication skills.
On vernacular education:
Parents should be given a choice
On Malays succumbing to imaginary fears created by Umno:
The fears are completely unfounded. They are irrational. It is impossible for Malays to lose power for three reasons: demographics, the constitutional protection of Malay rights are the fact that the Conference of Rulers will never permit changing the relevant parts of the Federal Constitution.
On election rigging:
It won’t happen so much on election day, as the real problem is gerrymandering and malapportionment within the electoral system. The vote bank is still with the Malays; so we must convince the Malays to think rationally and break through the emotional politics. We must emphasise policies, and remind people of the real issues like education, unemployment, the GST.
On not being given preferential treatment in DAP:
I would like to think I have earned my position. I do not have a token position. I am entrusted with work because they believe that I can do it. I have to do lots of things and so do the other Malays, like Syerleena Abdul Rashid, who is both the Youth Secretary and the Woman’s Secretary for the party. She does a lot of grassroots work.
On his reception by rural and urban people:
In the beginning, people did not understand why I joined the DAP. Today, the perception has changed, and people know me, talk to me and approach me. Previously, DAP stayed in its shell, and did not interact with the Malays. This has changed, much to the credit of DAP programmes such as Impian Sarawak, Impian Sabah and Impian Kelantan, where our people visit kampongs to interact with the people. The engagement is important.
On where he sees himself in 10 years time:
In 10 years time, I will be part of a reformed country.
Mariam Mokhtar is an FMT columnist.