All 14 delegates debate in favour of DAP remaining in Cabinet ahead of secret ballot

PUTRAJAYA: All 14 delegates debating the DAP's place in the unity government spoke in favor of staying in the Cabinet, urging others to vote for continued collaboration. The discussion occurred at the DAP national congress at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, with over 4,000 delegates set to vote secretly on whether the party should stay or leave until the parliamentary term ends.

Kedah delegate Lim Hooi Yee argued against punishing the unity government for a recent electoral loss, warning that leaving would cost the party more than a temporary platform to criticize. She emphasized that leaving now would not guarantee future benefits, but staying would allow them to defend people's welfare and challenge flawed policies.

Penang delegate Daniel Gooi Zi Sen accused the unity government's enemies of stoking racial and religious tensions to see the DAP fail. If they left, they would give their opponents a victory, he said. The motion to decide the party's fate by secret ballot was proposed by Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who is also the DAP secretary-general.

The central executive committee initially avoided making the call to democratize the decision-making process. Last month, the party won only six out of 17 contested seats in the Johor election, and lost two more in the Negri Sembilan election, including Chennah, a seat held by Loke since 2013.