DAP vows to accelerate economic, political reforms in new party lineup

THE Democratic Action Party (DAP) is not a Yes-man party - it is only a Yes-man to our voters and the people.

This was the sentiment posed by DAP national chairman Lim Guan Eng in his welcome speech to the DAP 18th national congress in Shah Alam today.

He stressed that the focal point of the party is to accelerate economic and political reforms to repay the voters’ trust, in that, Pakatan Harapan will make Malaysia better for generations to come.

At the congress, which saw the largest turnout in DAP’s 59-year-old history, Lim said: “DAP’s transformation from a fringe opposition party to a partner in power in the Federal and state government is a testimony to the perseverance, courage and resilience of our veteran leaders.”

He welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to the national congress, the first time in Anwar’s capacity as Prime Minister.

Lim said: “DAP has been the government’s staunchest ally as demonstrated by successive DAP Secretary-Generals from Sdr Lim Kit Siang to Sdr Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

“DAP is proud that we helped you become the Prime Minister and will continue to do so”, Lim said, before calling on all delegates to applaud Anwar for his success. 

“We commend the political and institutional reforms that have been implemented by Anwar’s government this year and hope that economic reforms will be included and accelerated this year to repay our voters’ trust that PH will make Malaysia better for our children,” Lim said.

“United States President Donald Trump’s tariff policies will hurt Malaysia’s economy and businesses, especially SMEs,” he said, expressing hope that additional financial assistance can be given to businesses affected by such tariffs as well as postpone or delay some financial policies that will impose extra monetary burdens.

Lim then called on the delegates and all those present to applaud the dedication to DAP’s values, contributions and sacrifices of our veterans exemplified by Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang, Datuk Seri Karpal Singh and Dr Chen Man Hin along with long-serving leaders who are not contesting in this year’s CEC elections.

They have been with us during the good times and hard times, he said.

Lim expressed that there is only one leader in the DAP, the party secretary-general who will set the party’s direction and thanked the DAP leadership and all members for your cooperation and support.

“Let me remind our delegates here - old, young and new that DAP’s success today can be attributed to doing the right thing and doing things right for Malaysia as well as our unquenchable fighting spirit. As long as DAP members stand together in upholding our principles and ideals, we will never be defeated by our opponents,” he said.

Lim added, this year’s congress has attracted a lot of media attention because a new leadership will be elected.

The DAP CEC election in conjunction with the congress saw 70 candidates vying for 30 places in the committee. Steven Sim had previously announced that 4,203 delegates from 1,650 branches were eligible to vote in the election.

Those elected in the CEC will lead the DAP leadership for the term 2025 to 2028, which will then also elect the top leadership including the new secretary-general. – March 16, 2025