Home > About Us > Vision & Mission > Our Objectives

Our Objectives The vision of the party is to establish a peaceful and prosperous social democracy that can unite its disparate races and diverse religions and cultures based on: a Malaysian universal moral values, Malaysia concept by forging Malaysian race with

offering equal access and opportunity; democractic governance and rule of law; creating wealth and distributing wealth equitably; and fighting against corruption.

The Mission of the DAP Our mission is to make a difference in the lives of Malaysians by bringing about positive changes. To do that leaders and members must be united, have a vision focused on our ideals and principles, congregate talented people who are - economically competent; and with the ability to deliver efficient management of the civil administration.

Home > About Us > Vision & Mission > Party Policies

Party Policies An outline of Party Policies: On the Reform of Legislative Institutions restoration of local government elections; abolition of the appointment system of Senate; denial of the two-third majority of the ruling parties in the Parliament and State Assemblies.

On the Reform of the Electoral system restoration of the "one -person-one -vote" system of constituency delineation; expansion of voting rights to all citizens who age of 18 years or above; restoration of the independence of the Election Commission; creation of an electoral culture that is clean, fair and free.

On nation-building Abolition of the division of "bumiputra" and "non-bumiputra" and the implementation of ethnic equality.

On Economic Development due emphasis be given to distributive justice; opposition to environment destruction; opposition to "Party Capitalism"; replacement of the ethnic quota system with a policy of "merits and needs"

On Labour implementation of minimum wage opposition to unlimited import of foreign labour; defence of workers' rights to free association; promotion of workers' solidarity

On Social Welfare implementation of health care and other social security policies; protection of the aged, the disabled and the poor against absolute poverty.

On Education implementation of a seamless system of education;

full recognition of the right to mother tongue education. opposition to the 1996 National Education Act.

On Ethnic and Cultural rights cultural democracy; ethnic equality; national integration through equality, tolerance and understanding.

On Mass Media creation of a free, fair , accountable and responsible mass media opposition to the monopoly of information and manipulation of news;

On Agriculture non-ethnic-based reform to land-reform; rental control; expansion of agricultural loan; reduction of agricultural taxes.

On Environment opposition to any economic policy that destroys the environment; the right of Orang Asli to develop and enjoy their natural resources; all major development of natural resources like the construction of mammoth dams must be subject to strict monitoring and assessment.

On International Relations promotion of world peace and justice; support for the Non-Alignment Movement; opposition to imperialism and racism; promotion of human rights and democracy.

On National Defence opposition to excessive defence budget; call for genuine national service; strengthening of civil defence; streaming and reduction of armed forces to a highly trained professional force.

On Women participation of women in all levels of decision-making. opposition to all laws that discriminate against women.

On Youth nine years of compulsory education; abolition of ethnic quota system in education, the Universities and Universities s Colleges Act and all other laws and regulations that retard the full development of the potential of Malaysia citizens.

Home > About Us > Vision & Mission > Party Declarations

Party Declarations An outline of Party Declarations since 1967

Setapak Declaration The Setapak Declaration affirms DAP's viewpoint that in the process of nation-building, ethnic equality must be made the paramount principle, and it is upon this principle that the separation of citizens into "Bumiputra" and " non- Bumiputra" is strongly opposed. On policies relating to culture and education, the Declaration stresses the spirit of the National Constitution must be respected; while firmly accepting Bahasa Malaysia as the national language, the right of using other languages must be protected. The Setapak Declaration also affirms the commitment of DAP to building a creative and

harmonious nation, that provides the only way of national integration, not national disintegration. (1967)

Statement On Cultural Democracy The Statement On Cultural Democracy propagates that multiculturalism is a source of national strength and the foundation of collective culture, but not the cause of disharmony and discord. It advocates the free exchange and development of different cultures in a multi-ethnic society because this is the best way of achieving firm and sustainable national integration. It advocates amongst others: - Bahasa Malaysia as the National Language; Abolition of the classification of "national" and "national-type" schools by giving equal treatment to all the four streams of education- Malay, English, Chinese and Tamil. Chinese and Tamil to be accepted as medium of instruction as well as examination at primary and secondary levels, in all Chinese and Tamil medium schools. - Admission to the Universities to be determined solely on the merit of basic educational qualification, to ensure that standards of university admission and of university examinations are maintained at a high level. The Statement On Cultural Democracy reflects the basic values and ideas of social democracy and multiculturalism. (1968)

The Petaling Declaration The Petaling Declaration reaffirms that DAP is to achieve its objective of creating a democratic socialist Malaysian Malaysia through peaceful, democratic and constitutional struggle. The Petaling Declaration also reaffirms the call to abolish the quota system, and calls on the Government to seriously deal with the problems of rural poverty, land ownership, manpower training and provision of basic infrastructure, so as to eradicate class polarisation. The Petaling Declaration makes many suggestions on how to build a clean, efficient and caring government. The concrete measures to combat corruption and to promote democratisation are still valued as the guiding principles of our struggle. (1981)

The Tanjong Declaration The mission statement of the Party, that encapsulates the 25 years of the struggle of the Party and provides a future programme of action. It enhances the Party's understanding of the concepts of freedom and democracy in a new era. It strengthens the theoretical premise of the Party's founding ideas and principles and reaffirms the dedication of the Party: - to the international social-democracy movement and the cause of human solidarity; - to the struggle against autocracy, corruption, exploitation and oppression - to the struggle for genuine ethnic equality

Guided by the basic values of democratic socialism, the Tanjong declaration also outlines the Party's stand on issues relating to privatization, labour, women, youth, environment, culture, education, rural poverty and international relations. (1992)

DAP Women's Tanjong Declaration In order to enhance the rights of the Malaysian women of all strata and ethnic community and to accelerate the process of their liberation from passivity and subjugation, the DAP Women declares its dedication to the following programmes in 1992:

- opposition of all forms of violence, discrimination and exploitation against women; - recognition of the equality of women's labour and struggle for better protection of its fruit of labour - amendment to all the discriminatory laws; - setting up a Ministry of Women Affairs to be headed by a woman minister; - upgrading the healthcare system with emphasis given to the needs of women to enjoy better healthcare; - reaffirmation of women liberation being an organic part of the general struggle of human rights and democracy (1992)

DAPSY Declaration The DAP Socialist Youth, DAPSY, aspires to infuse the new Malaysian youth with values of critical and independent thinking, courage and readiness to sacrifice for democracy, justice, peace and freedom. Towards this, DAPSY dedicates its works to the following programmes:

- the restoration of the 1957 Merdeka Constitution; - equality of rights and opportunity for all; - positive development of human resources; - human rights, freedom and democracy; - environmental protection and consumer rights; - achieve a democratic socialist Malaysian Malaysia; - opposition to oppression; - opposition to corruption and promoting national unity through moral values, public accountability and responsibility. (1992)

DAPSY Kulai Declaration of Anti-Corruption DAPSY calls for a declaration of war against corruption which amongst others demands::

- all members of Government not only must publicly declare their assets but also legally prohibited from accumulating extraordinary wealth and living beyond their official means - there is no mixing of politics with business and members of Government are not allowed to get involve in business - the Anti-Corruption Agency be given full independent powers and be accountable and subjected only to the scrutiny of and supervision from Parliament; - All assets of those found guilty of corruption be confiscated by the State (1993)

The BA Common Manifesto In the 1999 general election, DAP teamed up with Parti Islam SaMalaya (PAS), Parti Keadilan Nasional (Keadilan) and Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) to form the Barisan Alternative (BA). DAP remains unswerving in its commitment that Malaysia shall remain as a democratic, secular and multi-religious nation. DAPs cooperation with the other three opposition parties was based on the BA common manifesto, Towards A Just Malaysia in order to break the BNs political hegemony and smash the chains of repression fettering the rights and freedom of Malaysians and undermining justice, freedom, democracy and good governance. Unfortunately, however, subsequent events that transpired, especially the insistence of PAS in forming an Islamic State an idea deemed incompatible with the pluralistic nature of a Malaysian nation cherished by DAP - shattered the whole basis of the cooperation. Once the common objectives of the BA coalition had been tainted by one component party's insistence to alter the secular nature of this country, it was no longer tenable for DAP to continue in the BA. DAP pulled out from the coalition in 2001.

Home > About Us > Our History

Brief History DAPs consistent and unwavering advocacy of the integration approach to nation-building and uncompromising opposition to any assimilation policy eventually prevailed. In the 1999 general election, DAP teamed up with Parti Islam SaMalaya (PAS), Parti Keadilan Nasional (Keadilan) and Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) to form the Barisan Alternative (BA) in an attempt to shatter the BN political hegemony, attributed to its undisrupted two-thirds parliamentary majority the root cause of the BNs political arrogance, undemocratic rule and repression of the fundamental rights of Malaysians. Unfortunately, however, subsequent events that transpired, especially the insistence of PAS in forming an Islamic State an idea deemed incompatible with the pluralistic nature of a Malaysian nation cherished by DAP forced DAP to pull-out from the coalition two years later.

Formed in October 1965, Democratic Action Party (DAP) Malaysia was formally registered six months later on March 18, 1966 as a social democratic party irrevocably committed to the ideal of a free, democratic and socialist Malaysia, based on the principles of racial equality, social and economic justice, and founded on the institution of parliamentary democracy. (SETAPAK DECLARATION, made in the first DAP National Congress in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur on July 29,

1967). In August 1966, the official organ of the Party, the Rocket, made its inaugural appearance. In October 1967, DAP joined 55 other social democratic, socialist and labour parties all over the world as a member of the Socialist International (SI) at the SI International Conference in Zurich, Switzerland. DAP contested its first general election in 1969 and won 13 Parliamentary and 31 State Assembly seats, securing 11.9 per cent of the valid votes cast. However, DAP experienced its ups and downs in the eight general elections contested in the 30 years between 1969 to 1999, from winning 24 Parliamentary and 37 state assembly seats in the 1986 general election to securing only 9 Parliamentary and 11 State Assembly seats in the 1995 general election.

DAP remains unswerving in its commitment that Malaysia shall remain as a democratic, secular and multi-religious nation. DAPs co-operation with the other three opposition parties was based on the BA common manifesto, Towards A Just Malaysia in order to break the BNs political hegemony and smash the chains of repression fettering the rights and freedom of Malaysians and undermining justice, freedom, democracy and good governance. Once the common objectives of the BA coalition had been tainted by one component party's insistence that the secular nature of this country should replaced with an Islamic one, it was no longer tenable for DAP to continue in the BA. Nonetheless, the biggest challenge for Malaysia lies in the future and not in the past to realize a Malaysian Malaysia where all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, can enjoy justice, freedom, democracy and good governance. DAP shall persevere with its political commitment to bring about a fair, just, democratic and united Malaysia so that the country can rise up to the challenges of the information technology and globalization era and take its rightful place in the international arena.

Through thick and thin for over three decades, DAP has been second to none in the battle for democracy, justice, equality and a united multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-religious Malaysia. DAP leaders, members and supporters did not flinch when many of them had to pay a heavy price for their political beliefs, losing their personal liberties when detained under the Internal Security Act, prosecuted, convicted and jailed on politically trumped-up charges or victimized in a large variety of ways. DAP succeeded in the first 30 years of its struggle to save Malaysia from the catastrophe of permanent national division and eventual disintegration by breaking the hardening mould of a nation-building policy based on assimilation rather than integration. The Barisan Nasional (BN) government had publicly admitted in 1994 that the assimilation nation-building policy which it had originally attempted to implement, with its one language, one culture approach, which refused to recognize the multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multicultural reality of the country, was unsuitable for a plural society like Malaysia.

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