Other party figures were more guarded.
DAP central executive committee (CEC) member Kasthuri Patto told CNA it was hard to predict how delegates would vote, as those in opposition-held states and government-led states may hold different views.
“Delegates and party members, who are also voters, have distinct views on how the administration is performing. But the realities of party politics are entirely different,” said Kasthuri, who did not indicate how she would vote.
“When looking at the bigger picture ahead of the congress, we have to separate party politics from government performance.”
S. Preakas, Kota Kemuning assemblyperson in Selangor, also did not indicate which way he was leaning.
“My personal view is that any decision should be guided by what best serves the interests of Malaysians,” he said.
“(However) the delegates decide, it should be based on principle, accountability, and the long-term interests of the country rather than short-term political considerations.”
Former DAP parliamentarian Charles Santiago predicted that despite the sentiment that DAP’s voice had been muzzled in the Cabinet, delegates would vote to stay in government.
This is because leaving could collapse the administration and trigger a political crisis, he said.
“The party is at a crossroads. DAP deciding to leave would create a huge vacuum and strip the Cabinet of its legitimacy to carry on. It might even force Anwar to call a snap election,” he said.
If DAP decides to pull out of the Cabinet, its support would decline even further, said Yusri Ibrahim, lead researcher of research firm Ilham Centre.
In a Facebook post on Aug 5, he said Chinese voters, in particular, would grow even more disgruntled.
“If they decide to pull out of the government this August 16, and then during GE16 they campaign all over again asking for votes to win and form the government once more — just so they can supposedly resolve all the issues — do you honestly think the voters will believe them?” Yusri wrote.
As a crucial component of PH, a DAP pullout from the Cabinet would be perceived as the government being increasingly weak and unstable, Yusri told CNA.
DAP holds 40 parliamentary seats in Malaysia’s 222-member lower house – the most seats in PH, which also comprises Anwar’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Parti Amanah Negara, which hold 29 and eight seats respectively.
“If they walk out of the government, it sends a very bad signal for the administration,” Yusri said.
GE16 is not due until February 2028, and Yusri said it would be best for Anwar to try and see through the rest of the term, as there was still a lot more he could do to boost the public’s confidence.
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