Stay or go? DAP delegates face Cabinet dilemma at Aug 16 congress

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 — DAP delegates will gather on August 16 for the party's national congress, where they face a political catch-22 that could shape its strategy heading into the next general election.

Roughly 4,000 delegates are expected to vote on whether DAP leaders should remain in government posts, including the federal Cabinet, or relinquish those positions while continuing to support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament.

The decision follows a difficult 10 months. DAP lost all eight seats it contested in the Sabah election last November before further setbacks in Johor and Negeri Sembilan. Among the casualties was secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook, who lost his Chennah state seat in the Jelebu parliamentary constituency after three terms.

The Cabinet dilemma

The losses have fuelled frustration among grassroots members who believe governing has cost DAP politically without producing enough reforms to justify the compromises of the past three and a half years.

Remaining in government could reinforce criticism that the party has compromised too much. Leaving the Cabinet could satisfy members demanding a stronger stance, but many voters may not distinguish between quitting the executive and continuing to support the government in Parliament — and an exit could be read as the unity government losing cohesion before a general election that must be held by February 2028.

DAP leaders have already ruled out withdrawing parliamentary support for Anwar or leaving Pakatan Harapan.

A precedent in Melaka

Last month, Melaka DAP withdrew from the state government after objecting to a Bill allowing the appointment of nominated assemblymen. Its representatives resigned from state administration posts and its four assemblymen moved to the Opposition bench, though the BN-led state government remained intact with a two-thirds majority.

No easy answer

International Islamic University Malaysia political scientist Associate Professor Syaza Shukri said the debate centres on whether voters believe the reform agenda has delivered meaningful change.

"The biggest concern is the lack of reform and when we say reform we have to understand it's about reforms that are felt on the ground," she said, citing economic reforms that improve lives and ease of doing business. "Things seem to stay the same."

She called quitting the Cabinet while keeping parliamentary support "the best middle ground", noting that pulling support "would cause the fall of the government". But she warned: "Average voters may not understand the difference between pulling out of executive versus legislative. So public perception would be that Anwar has lost confidence."

Akademi Nusantara senior fellow Azmi Hassan also expects delegates to favour leaving the Cabinet while backing Anwar. "I think they are more effective as the critical voice of the government," he said.