“I hope that whatever decision is made by the delegates today, the most important thing that we want to see is positive change in our country so that Malaysia becomes a progressive country,” he said before handing the floor to DAP delegates representing all 14 Malaysian states.
All 14 of them made the case for DAP’s ministers to stay on, with many of them stressing the need to maintain political stability.
DAP Selangor’s Shakir Ameer Mohideen said DAP had fought long and hard to be in the government, and “can’t just give up because of a few setbacks”.
“We have gone through much worse in the past and must continue to persevere,” he said.
DAP Sarawak’s Soo Tien Ren said quitting the government now would be political “suicide” as it would mean abandoning the millions of Malaysians who had believed in them.
“It would mean abandoning our responsibility to correct our own mistakes,” he said, arguing that the party should fight to implement the reforms it had advocated for while in the opposition.
Kuala Lumpur delegate Sangeet Kaur Deo said the party needed to rebuild voter trust and confidence.
“On too many issues, we have remained silent because we didn’t want to rock the boat,” she said, adding that voters had questioned the party’s silence.
She cited the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) granted to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over 47 corruption charges, alongside media reports alleging the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) colluded with a group of businessmen in corporate disputes. Former MACC chief Azam Baki has denied the allegations.
Sangeet was not optimistic DAP could continue to work with the BN lynchpin party United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which she said had openly attacked DAP despite being part of the same federal government.
“The fact is we cannot work with these coalition partners but we need to strengthen our party and I hope we are going to use the next 18 months to speak up while in government,” she said. Malaysia’s next general election is due by February 2028, but may be called sooner.
“So stay in government and speak up while we are there, And if we must become opposition again, at least we have laid the basis and regained credibility,” said Sangeet.
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