The Democratic Action Party (DAP) will decide today whether to remain part of the governing Unity Coalition or step down from treasury benches to serve as a backbench pressure group.
Delivering his policy speech at the 2026 DAP National Congress at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) on Sunday, Secretary-General Anthony Loke placed the decision in the hands of more than 4,000 attending delegates.
Addressing the assembly in a sombre address, Loke acknowledged the political toll of governing. He noted that DAP has had to absorb significant public backlash over unpopular government decisions and a perceived slowdown in core reform initiatives originally championed alongside coalition partner PKR ahead of the 15th General Election.
The high-stakes vote follows a string of recent state election losses that have exposed growing voter frustration. Loke pointed to:
- Sabah State Election: A heavy defeat that served as an early warning sign from the electorate.
- Johor & Negeri Sembilan Elections: Subsequent electoral downturns, including Loke’s own defeat in the Malay-majority seat of Chennah to Barisan Nasional.
Taking responsibility for his loss in Chennah, Loke explained that his candidacy was intended to demonstrate that DAP could win support across diverse demographics.
“When we are in government, there are constraints and weaknesses that we have to bear together,” Loke told delegates. “The leadership is leaving it to the delegates to assess whether we should remain in government until the end of its term to carry out reforms, or play the role of a pressure group from the backbenches.”
The vote leaves party delegates facing a critical dilemma ahead of the national polls:
- Option 1: Remain in Government — DAP would stay within Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration until the end of its term. However, leaders would be pressured to take a far more assertive stance on policies affecting the public to rebuild eroded trust.
- Option 2: Return to the Backbenches — Withdrawing ministerial representation would transform DAP into an independent pressure group. While allowing the party to reconnect with its core base, the move risks derailing ongoing reform initiatives established over the past three years.
Loke emphasised that a decision of such magnitude could not be made by the 40-member Central Executive Committee (CEC) alone, framing today’s vote as a collective imperative for the party’s direction. Results of the vote are expected later today.
