KUALA LUMPUR – Former DAP leader Ronnie Liu has slammed the treatment of former Skudai assemblywoman Marina Ibrahim as “unfair and unjust”, accusing the party of straying from the values that once defined it.
What should have been a routine by-election has instead become a flashpoint, reigniting debate over whether DAP remains committed to the principles of multiracialism, inclusivity and internal democracy that helped build its support over the decades.
Liu, who left the party in 2023 after more than four decades, said Marina did not deserve the treatment she received after being moved from her long-serving constituency to contest in a predominantly Malay seat under circumstances largely beyond her control.
“I am sympathetic with Marina. I think what happened on her was unfair and unjust and uncalled for,” he told Scoop Insight host News Editor Azim Idris and Editor-in-Chief Terence Fernandez.
He rejected suggestions that Marina’s relocation to the Malay-majority Tiram state assembly seat by Johor DAP chairman Teo Nie Ching was part of a carefully planned strategy by DAP to expand its influence in Malay-majority constituencies.
“That lady (Teo) told us at the last minute to go somewhere without any preparation. It’s not like we were informed a long time ago.”
According to Liu, the situation only emerged after Umno decided to contest the seat on its own, leaving DAP scrambling for alternatives.
“I know that because DAP got (to contest) the Tiram seat simply because Umno wanted to go solo. And Umno wanted to go solo (there) only recently,” he said.
During the podcast, Azim noted that a flashpoint in the saga was a mention of Marina getting an appointment with a statutory body or a government-linked company,
In response, Liu said: “This one goes directly against the DAP principle. Because DAP doesn’t believe in patronage politics. We call this patronage politics. Okay, which is practised by Umno, MCA for many years. Now, you (DAP) actually want to practise it,” he said.
Liu argued that this type of compromise damages DAP’s credibility and could cost the party votes.
“DAP lost a lot of respect. And this will cost them votes? It will cost them a lot of votes. Actually, whether a GLC chairman or a government agency chairman, not much of a difference. Because GLC chairman, you need people with the kind of business know-how to run the business,” he explained.
He claimed the Marina episode reflects a broader shift within DAP since it joined the government, with political pragmatism increasingly taking precedence over principles.
He questioned claims that Marina had been deliberately chosen as part of a broader political strategy.
“So how can you claim that you have such a plan to use Marina to tackle the so-called Malay heartland, (with) that kind of story?” he asked.
Liu warned that the episode could undermine DAP’s image as a genuinely multiracial party and make it more difficult to attract future Malay leaders.
“I think DAP in future will find it very hard to get new recruitment of Malay boys and girls,” he said.
The controversy, he argued, reflects a wider shift within DAP since it entered government, with political compromises increasingly taking precedence over the principles it once championed.
“Once they become part of the government, they change. They compromise. So principles, values, all become, sorry, secondary,” he said.
While acknowledging that compromise is part of politics, Liu argued that there are limits. He also claimed the party had become increasingly reluctant to speak out when contentious decisions involved political allies or those in positions of power.
“When they have a second chance with (Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim), they will give a blank check to Anwar.”
Liu said the party had retreated from issues it once championed, including governance reforms, anti-corruption efforts and institutional accountability.
The former Selangor executive councillor also voiced concern over appointments to statutory bodies, government-linked companies and public institutions, arguing that such practices were once criticised by DAP when linked to political patronage.
Although he did not name specific appointments, Liu suggested the party’s willingness to embrace positions within the government ecosystem signalled a departure from its earlier reform agenda.
His criticism echoes concerns raised by some former supporters who believe DAP’s transition from opposition to government has led to greater political pragmatism at the expense of its founding ideals.
For Liu, Marina’s experience symbolises that transformation.
“We value multiracial image. We value inclusivity and all that. We talk about democracy all the time. We talk about fairness all the time. But in this case, I don’t see any of these values being practised,” he said.
Marina announced on May 31 that she would not defend her seat in the upcoming Johor state election and would instead retire from frontline politics.
The Skudai assemblywoman, who has represented the constituency since the 2022 Johor state election, said the decision came after careful discussions with those who had accompanied her throughout her political journey.
“Now, I have chosen to return to something that has been very close to my heart since a long time ago, which is being in the field, reaching out to the community and continuing the community work that has been a part of my life before I stepped into the world of politics,” she said in a Facebook post.
Marina was just 34 when she won the Skudai seat in 2022, securing a majority of more than 13,000 votes in a three-cornered contest against her nearest challenger from MCA-Barisan Nasional. Her victory was widely seen as part of a new generation of leaders emerging in Johor politics.
Her decision marks the end of a relatively brief but notable political chapter as she returns her focus to grassroots and community work outside the electoral arena. – June 7, 2026