DAP’s national congress on Aug 16 could become a defining moment for the party, with its grassroots potentially pushing for a temporary exit from the unity government while continuing to back Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, political analyst Dr Azmi Hassan said.
He said the move would be aimed at rebuilding DAP’s image after a series of disappointing election results, rather than bringing instability to the federal administration.
According to Dr Azmi, there is a possibility that delegates may decide the party needs to step away from government to reconnect with its supporters, amid growing concerns that DAP has not been able to deliver major changes while being part of the administration.
“The possibility is there that the 4,000 delegates will make a decision based on the sentiment of the grassroots — to leave the government temporarily to restore the party’s image,” he said.
He said part of the dissatisfaction stemmed from the perception among some supporters that DAP’s influence had been limited, particularly with Umno being part of the federal government.
However, Dr Azmi said any move would likely stop short of withdrawing support for Anwar, as DAP would still want to maintain political stability and protect its position within Pakatan Harapan (PH).
The congress has come under close watch after DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said delegates, rather than just the party leadership, would decide the party’s future direction, including its position in the unity government.
The discussion comes after a difficult period for DAP at the ballot box.
Loke himself lost the Chennah state seat in the Negeri Sembilan election, ending his more than decade-long hold on the constituency.
The party also suffered a major setback in Sabah, losing all eight seats it contested. Six of those were seats previously held by DAP — Likas, Luyang, Kapayan, Elopura, Tanjong Papat and Sri Tanjong.
In Johor, DAP’s number of seats also dropped, winning six of the 17 seats contested compared with the 10 it secured in the previous state election.
Dr Azmi said the defeats had forced DAP to confront questions over whether its participation in government had helped or hurt the party politically.
He said the congress was initially expected to be held after the Sabah election but was postponed first to July and later Aug 16, giving the government more time to pursue reforms following the party’s poor performance.
“If DAP remains in the government, it risks being tied to decisions made by the administration,” he said.
“By stepping outside temporarily, the party would have more room to criticise government policies without weakening the government or damaging PH.”
Dr Azmi said the issue was less about DAP abandoning the government and more about the party trying to reposition itself ahead of the next political battle.
The challenge for DAP, he added, would be balancing pressure from its grassroots while ensuring the unity government and PH remain intact. – August 7, 2026
