Resentment cause of poor attendance at DAP congress

KUALA LUMPUR, AUGUST 2026 — Frustration among sections of the Democratic Action Party’s grassroots has emerged as one explanation for the relatively low attendance at its special congress, where delegates overwhelmingly voted for the party’s ministers to remain in Malaysia’s unity government.

The August 16 congress at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre drew 2,223 delegates out of 4,264 eligible representatives, equivalent to roughly 52% attendance. Of the 2,106 valid secret ballots cast, 1,857 delegates, or 88.2%, supported remaining in government, while 242 voted for DAP ministers to leave their government positions. Seven ballots were spoiled.

Despite the decisive result among those who voted, the low attendance has triggered debate over whether the figures point to deeper dissatisfaction within the party.

Free Malaysia Today reported that some DAP grassroots delegates who stayed away described the special congress as unnecessary and questioned what practical difference the exercise would make. The report linked their absence to frustration with the leadership and the belief among some members that the outcome was largely predictable.

Among those quoted was Taman Paya Terubong DAP branch chairman JP Tan, who described the vote as unnecessary. Other unhappy delegates characterised the event as “pointless” or a waste of time, reflecting dissatisfaction among at least part of the grassroots interviewed by the publication.

The accounts do not establish that resentment was the reason every absent delegate failed to attend, but they add another perspective to the debate surrounding the congress’s turnout.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, however, has rejected suggestions that the attendance figures should be interpreted as a protest against the leadership.

Speaking after the congress, Loke said many DAP delegates come directly from grassroots branches and include hawkers, small-business owners and workers who may not be able to leave their jobs or businesses to attend a party conference.

He said turnout at DAP conferences where there is no party election has historically been below full participation, adding that even conferences involving internal elections typically do not attract every eligible delegate.

According to Loke, having more than half of eligible delegates present was therefore not unusual for a national gathering without a party leadership election.

The special congress came after DAP experienced significant electoral setbacks that intensified questions about its strategy and position within the federal government.

DAP lost all eight seats it contested in the November 2025 Sabah state election. Its representation also fell during subsequent state elections in Johor and Negeri Sembilan. The party’s seat tally dropped from 10 to six in Johor and from 11 to nine in Negeri Sembilan.

Loke himself lost the Chennah state seat in Negeri Sembilan, which he had represented for three terms. At the congress, he apologised for failing to retain the constituency and acknowledged that the party continued to face major challenges in expanding its support among Malay voters.

The setbacks followed growing criticism from sections of DAP’s traditional support base over the pace of reforms and the compromises involved in participating in the unity government. Ahead of the congress, party leaders had already acknowledged concerns about stalled institutional reforms and dissatisfaction among the grassroots