VETERAN DAP leader Chow Kon Yeow hopes the party can learn fast from the outright rejection by voters in the recent Sabah state election.
DAP for the first time since 2004, will not have any political representation in the second biggest state in Malaysia after eight of its candidates were whitewashed in the recent Sabah state election.
And it is not just the losses, but the slide in majority margins, which is also startling to the socialist party.
Chow, who leads the DAP-bastion Penang national unity government, said that main factors need to be considered when the national DAP conducts its post-mortem after the party’s total rejection in the 17th Sabah election.
What strikes his mind is a perception that the government is not doing enough to curb corruption or an abuse of power; it has led voters to take a different stand and reject Pakatan Harapan (PH), the lynchpin behind the national unity government.
“The most critical issue is the scepticism towards the Government’s efforts to curb corruption, abuse of power and other issues within the administration, which has led people to feel the need to take a stand," said Chow after opening an event here.
"It is not only DAP which fared badly, PH also didn't do well."
Although Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has demonstrated strong leadership internationally and ensured the nation’s finances have stabilised since taking over the administration, this still appears insufficient, said Chow.
“There are many issues that remain, especially the cost of living. Although much has been done, it continues to be a major concern among voters.
Chow said that DAP accepts the verdict of the voters and hopes to rebound soon.
There are speculations that the next general election may be held by early 2027.
Chow stressed the importance of understanding the voters’ message, the lessons that must be drawn from this setback, and how the party should chart its direction.
He added that what happened in Sabah was not a question of candidate suitability, as all eight candidates, including incumbents and a state cabinet minister, were defeated.
“We need to take note of the total rejection of DAP in the Sabah election and its implications," said Chow, who is a DAP central committee member, and a former vice-chairman.
A former political secretary to DAP founder Tan Sri LIm Kit Siang, Chow noted that none of the DAP candidates were seen as corrupt, yet they were rejected.
Meanwhile, former PKR deputy secretary-general S. Raveentharan urged PH to go back to its roots as a reformist - minded movement.
"We got popular votes because we knew then that reforms are the only way to salvage the country from savages of corruption, cronyism and nepotism."
But PH seems to have lost its way since 2020, and over time, support has eroded despite the impressive records such as high rate of investments, said Raveentharan.
Being part of the national unity coalition may impede the reform agenda but the effort to maintain reforms, must be convincing enough for voters to buy into it.
"Now, it remains a lukewarm initiative and the messaging for reforms has weakened in the face of global politics such as ASEAN and US tariffs. We need more attention on the domestic front if the Sabah outcome is to be learnt," he said. - December 2, 2025
