UM Associate Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the need for political survival would force such a policy change.
“I think the leaders in DAP are starting to realise this,” he told FMT.

Awang Azman was commenting on a Facebook item posted by blogger Lim Sian See, in which the DAP policy of “getting rid of the distinction between Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera” was highlighted.

Lim questioned the alliance between DAP and the new party of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, which is committed to protecting Bumiputera rights.

Awang Azman said DAP would eventually realise that protecting Bumiputera rights would in fact be good for it.

“It will have to accept the fact that more than 60 per cent of Malaysians are Bumiputeras,” he said. “If it doesn’t, it will become irrelevant.”

Awang Azman said DAP’s recruitment of professionals such as Zairil Khir Johari showed that its leaders had begun to realise that the party needed the support of Bumiputeras.

He said the addition of such people to the DAP leadership was meant to strengthen the party’s attraction among Bumiputera voters.