DAP’s 4,000 delegates will gather next Sunday to consider the party’s future in government, with unfulfilled promises expected to be among the key issues shaping the debate.
Sentiments within the party are mixed. While those advocating for DAP to serve out its term in the current administration acknowledge that there are shortcomings that need to be addressed, others believe the party has no choice but to leave the government.
Calls to stay and push reforms
Klang MP V Ganabatirau believes DAP should remain in government for now, but stressed that the party must continue pursuing the reforms it has long advocated.
“There is no point withdrawing from the government. If we leave, the people will not believe we can deliver on our promises,” he told FMT.
At the Aug 16 national congress, delegates will vote by secret ballot on a motion concerning whether DAP leaders should continue holding government positions or quit the Cabinet while continuing to support the Pakatan Harapan administration for the remainder of its term.
DAP has five ministers and seven deputy ministers, including party secretary-general Loke Siew Fook, who heads the Transport portfolio.
Ganabatirau said one reform that should be prioritised is the one-person, one-vote principle championed by Bersih, which seeks to ensure that votes carry roughly equal weight across constituencies.
He also called for fair constituency allocations regardless of political affiliation, saying this would help restore public confidence that the government was not biased.
Ganabatirau said there should also be clear guidelines on the enforcement of penalties for offences involving race, religion and royalty, or 3R issues, an end to selective prosecution, and a review of e-invoicing to ease pressure on businesses.
Some delegates want DAP to leave
However, a delegate planning to vote for DAP to leave the government told FMT that the move would be in the party’s best interest.
“We must do it before it is too late,” said the delegate, who declined to be named.
He said the losses in Johor and Negeri Sembilan had prompted many to question whether remaining in government was hurting DAP’s support base.
“There is a perception that the party has become too accommodative,” he said.
“It is better to leave. But if delegates decide to stay, DAP must not continue with business as usual. Speak publicly, ensure fairness in governance and clarify government policies,” he added.
He said that without changes, DAP risked suffering a heavy electoral defeat, similar to what it experienced in Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Sabah.
DAP faces a political Catch-22
For former DAP leader Ronnie Liu, the decision is a difficult one, as both options carry political consequences.
“Delegates know that both staying in the government or leaving carry political consequences,” he told FMT.
“If they leave, the party may become weaker. If they stay, there are problems too. It is a Catch-22,” he said.
Liu said DAP risked losing Chinese and Indian support if it remained in government. However, he added that PKR could lose Malay support if DAP left.
“This makes things more complicated,” he said.
He urged the party to identify where it had gone wrong and have the courage to acknowledge its mistakes where necessary.
Liu cited concerns over issues including pig farming, e-invoicing, the royal commission of inquiry into the death of Teoh Beng Hock and other public grievances.
He said DAP should focus on addressing these issues quickly as time was not on its side.
Grassroots frustration over government performance
Another DAP veteran said some grassroots members and elected representatives were already frustrated with the government’s performance.
He said that while the Madani administration had introduced reforms, their slow implementation had fuelled a public backlash.
Nevertheless, he expected delegates to support remaining in government.
“There are crucial unfinished businesses that both our leaders and the government must see through,” he told FMT.
He also noted that this would be the first time DAP was using its congress as a referendum on its position in government.
While he expected vigorous debate, he believed delegates would ultimately choose to remain in the Madani government.
“This will give its leadership the time and stability needed to deliver on its promises,” he added.
DAP says it remains vocal
Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham rejected claims that DAP had become less vocal since joining the government, saying its leaders had continued to express their views on various national issues.
“Some say we have become a silent party since becoming part of the government. We are still vocal internally and we are still vocal publicly,” he said.
Ngeh said DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo had also voiced concerns internally, but added that people must understand that the party was part of the government when it came to its public position.
He said delegates should vote based on what would best enable DAP to serve the public.
“There are pros and cons to staying or leaving. In politics, there is no ideal situation. If you are in government, there are many things you can do to influence policy,” he told FMT.
