Former Malaysian finance minister Lim Guan Eng has been voted out as chairman of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and will instead serve as an adviser to the party. Digital minister Gobind Singh Deo has been appointed as the new chairman, while transport minister Anthony Loke retained his role as secretary-general.
Housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming was named deputy chairman. The appointments were finalised on Sunday night following a vote by the newly elected Central Executive Committee (CEC), the party’s highest decision-making body.
A total of 64 candidates contested 30 seats in the CEC, with Gobind receiving the highest number of votes at 2,785.
Lim, previously the eighth highest vote-getter in the 2022 elections, secured the 26th spot this time with 1,719 votes.
His sister, deputy finance minister Lim Hui Ying, failed to secure a CEC position, missing out by just 11 votes.
A shift in leadership
The secretary-general remains the most powerful position in the party, but the chairman holds significant influence as they lead a panel that determines election candidates.
Loke, speaking at a press conference alongside the new leadership team, emphasised unity within the party.
“We work as a team. This committee is strong, and the new line-up takes various considerations into account,” Loke said. He added that the CEC made the leadership decisions within 30 minutes.
Lim Guan Eng, 64, who served as DAP secretary-general for 17 years before stepping down in 2022, stated that he accepted the decision made by party members.
“The future of the party has been decided by its members and not outsiders. We should unite under the new leadership,” he said.
Gobind, 51, acknowledged the weight of his new role and expressed gratitude to Lim for his contributions. “There is a lot to be done. We must strengthen the party and work hard to achieve the goals our supporters expect,” he said.
Election results and implications
The election results mark a shift in power within the DAP, with younger leaders solidifying their positions while the influence of the Lim family wanes.
Gobind’s continued popularity, evident in his commanding lead in the vote count, reinforces his growing stature in the party.
The full list of CEC members reflects a mix of experienced and emerging leaders. Among the top vote-getters were Chong Chien Jen (2,631), Teo Nie Ching (2,585), Ng Suee Lim (2,563), and Loke (2,508). Notably, some established figures, including Teresa Kok and RSN Rayer, failed to secure a spot.
DAP’s role in the unity government
DAP is a key component of the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
With 40 parliamentary seats, it is the second-largest party in the Dewan Rakyat after the opposition Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), which holds 43 seats.
A divided DAP could pose challenges for Anwar’s government, which already balances competing interests from multiple coalition partners.
Political analysts have noted that the DAP election was closely watched for signs of factional divides, particularly regarding Lim’s influence versus the rise of younger leaders.
Both Lim and Loke reaffirmed their support for Anwar’s leadership while stressing that the party would remain vocal on key issues.
Lim declared that DAP would not be a “yes-man party” but would continue advocating for voters’ interests. Loke, meanwhile, said DAP’s approach to criticism had evolved, now favouring dialogue and internal discussions over public confrontation.
Calls for reform and government criticism
At the congress, Lim urged the government to implement economic reforms and provide financial assistance to businesses affected by US tariffs. He also reiterated concerns over the quality of government projects and called for stricter oversight.
Loke, in his address, advocated for a 10-year term limit for the prime minister and the separation of the attorney-general’s chambers from the public prosecutor’s office. Anwar supported the term-limit proposal but noted that it would require a two-thirds parliamentary majority to be enacted.
“Reforms cannot be rushed. We must ensure they are implemented properly,” Anwar said.
DAP’s internal polls were among the most closely contested in recent years, highlighting shifts in party dynamics. In contrast, the upcoming internal elections in PKR (May) and PAS (September) are expected to be less contentious.
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