NewzDAP is holding a one-day special congress at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, where over 4,000 delegates will vote on the party’s direction.PUTRAJAYA: DAP delegates from across the country have overwhelmingly called for the party to remain in the federal government, saying it must stay the course to deliver reforms and fulfil the mandate given by voters.The delegates were debating a motion tabled by DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook on whether the party should remain in the government until the end of the current parliamentary term or leave the administration and become backbenchers.While there was frustration over the government’s performance and the pace of reforms, delegates broadly said that leaving the administration would make matters worse.Perak DAP delegate Ng Thien Yong questioned who would benefit if the party left Putrajaya.“If we leave, who will be happy? It will be Perikatan Nasional, which will probably take over the role of government. So I want you all to make the right decision,” he said.Selangor DAP delegate Shakir Ameer Mohideen also backed DAP remaining in the Cabinet, saying the party had gone through a long struggle to reach Putrajaya and should not abandon its position now.“It is very important for us to remain.
We came a long way to capture Putrajaya. Then, after 22 months, we were toppled. We have been through so much.”Political suicideSarawak DAP delegate Soo Tien Ren described leaving the government now as “political suicide”, saying DAP should use its current position to push for further reforms.He also called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to relinquish the finance minister portfolio.
He also wanted equal allocations to all MPs, including opposition lawmakers, and for the government to abolish the Sedition Act.“These are not impossible reforms. They don’t require amendments to the Federal Constitution. They only require political will,” he said.Wong Bor Yang, a Johor DAP delegate, said the party's contributions were crucial to the formation of the unity government after the 2022 general election, when the party won 40 parliamentary seats.But the reform agenda is far from complete, he said.S Mugunthan, from Negeri Sembilan DAP, similarly said DAP ministers should remain in government so the party could “continue making a difference” for the…
Sangeet Kaur Deo accused Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of empowering Umno, which had been openly attacking DAP.PUTRAJAYA: DAP should remain in the unity government but reassess its relationship with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, says the party’s Kuala Lumpur delegate Sangeet Kaur Deo.Speaking at DAP's special congress here today, Sangeet said the party should stay in the federal government “for now” because it needs time to rebuild trust and confidence.“We can point to all the reforms that our ministers have undertaken, and there are many. At the ministerial level, initiatives have been strong.“But we cannot ignore the larger problems that we are facing as a party.“On too many issues, we have remained silent because we didn’t want to rock the boat,” she said.Sangeet also said the party could not deny there were corruption-related scandals that had escalated during its time in the administration.“We came into power on the basis that we were going to eradicate corruption.“Have we done that? (Umno president) Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has secured his DNAA (discharge not amounting to an acquittal) on his 47 charges.
We have been faced with scandals relating to our institutions, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.”Sangeet said Umno had been openly attacking DAP despite the two parties being part of the same federal coalition.“Are these coalition partners that we can genuinely work with? I ask our central executive committee to seriously reassess our relationship with Anwar.“Instead of bringing the coalition partners together, what has he done? He has divided us, pitting one against the other.
We cannot afford to ignore that,” she said.DAP is holding its one-day special congress at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, where over 4,000 delegates will vote on whether the party should remain in the federal unity government for the remainder of the parliamentary term.
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