4,264 DAP Delegates to Decide Whether Party Stays in Federal Government

KUALA LUMPUR, AUGUST 2026 – A total of 4,264 delegates from the Democratic Action Party (DAP) are set to make a major decision on the party’s future in Malaysia’s federal government when they gather for its annual conference on August 16.

The delegates, representing 1,704 eligible party branches nationwide, will vote on whether DAP should remain part of the federal administration or withdraw for the remainder of the current parliamentary term.

DAP national organising secretary Khoo Poay Tiong said the upcoming conference will address various issues at the federal level while also marking the party’s 60th anniversary.

The gathering comes at an important point for DAP as the party considers its political direction ahead of Malaysia’s 16th General Election.

According to Khoo, the 4,264 delegates eligible to participate are drawn from the party’s 2025 eligibility list.

He explained that the latest list could not be prepared in time because DAP branches only completed their respective annual general meetings in mid-June.

As a result, the party will use the 2025 qualified delegate list for the conference.

Each delegate was selected by their respective branch and will represent that branch during the proceedings.

The key motion concerning DAP’s position in the federal government will be tabled by party secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

Khoo said delegates attending the conference will ultimately determine whether the party continues participating in the federal administration or chooses to leave.

The decision will not be made through a voice vote or a show of hands.

Instead, every eligible delegate attending the conference will receive a ballot paper, allowing them to cast their vote privately through a secret ballot.

The voting process is expected to begin after delegates have completed their debate on the motion.

Khoo estimated that voting could take approximately two hours, although organisers are prepared to adjust the process if additional time is required to ensure every eligible delegate has the opportunity to vote.

The 2026 DAP Party Conference is scheduled to take place at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC).

Khoo clarified that the August 16 gathering is the party’s regular annual conference rather than an extraordinary general meeting or special conference, as it had previously been described in some reports.

Under DAP’s constitution, a party conference must be held no later than 18 months following a National Congress. The party’s most recent National Congress was held in March 2025.

The choice of PICC was also made after the party considered several possible venues.

According to Khoo, DAP surveyed about eight locations before selecting the convention centre, with its capacity and cost among the main considerations given the need to accommodate more than 4,000 delegates.

The conference carries additional significance as DAP celebrates six decades since its establishment.

Beyond commemorating the anniversary, however, attention will be firmly focused on the vote concerning the party’s participation in the federal government.

The outcome could have significant political implications, particularly as Malaysia’s political parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the next general election.

DAP is a component party of Pakatan Harapan, making the delegates’ decision particularly significant for the party’s future relationship with the federal administration.

With thousands of representatives eligible to participate, the secret ballot gives individual delegates direct responsibility for determining the party’s next political course.

Khoo has urged all eligible representatives to attend the conference, stressing the importance of the motion in shaping DAP’s future direction.