THE Democratic Action Party (DAP) will carry out three rounds of public opinion polls in the lead-up to its special congress in July, aiming to gauge perceptions of the government’s performance and the party’s role in governance.
Party secretary-general Anthony Loke said a polling agency has been commissioned to conduct the exercise, beginning this month, with subsequent surveys scheduled for April and June.
The findings will be presented to grassroots leaders and elected representatives during a nationwide briefing tour in June and subsequently tabled at the congress on 12 July.
“We must know whether the people's attitude has improved and whether the social sentiment has improved. This cannot be measured by feeling, but by data,” Loke said, stressing the importance of evidence-based assessment in guiding the party’s future direction.
While public opinion and media surveys may influence delegates’ views, Loke emphasised that the party’s ultimate direction must be decided internally.
He highlighted the first half of the year as crucial for demonstrating political achievements and advancing policy breakthroughs within the government, allowing party members and grassroots leaders to better understand both policy changes and voters’ expectations.
Loke acknowledged that DAP’s defeat in the recent Sabah state election had acted as a “trigger” and “catalyst” for internal review and accelerated reforms within the party.
He convened a special meeting of state legislators nationwide in January and established a six-month timeline for the government to deliver tangible results on its reform agenda.
“Many people question why we should remain in government if we cannot bring about change.
Since we have chosen to stay in government, we must push for policy revisions, implement the reform agenda and fulfil our campaign promises,” New Straits Times quoted him saying.
Loke emphasised that the party must demonstrate sincerity and concrete action in the first half of the year, meeting expectations with measurable outcomes.
Regarding the Sabah election defeat, Loke took full responsibility, not by resigning, but by committing to reverse the situation.
“It is easy to resign, so I don't have to do anything. But what I have to do is to reverse the bad situation,” he said.
He outlined the need for visible progress in policy breakthroughs and institutional reforms, particularly in economic policy, governance structures, and the unified examination system.
“The government has responded one after another in January, but the key is to continue to promote it. We must see changes in these six months. Not everything can be done in a short time, but at least we need to see the change in direction and specific progress.”
The six-month timeline, he said, sends a clear message to both party members and voters that DAP’s continued participation in government must deliver concrete improvements and positive impact.
“The Sabah election was a warning. It reminded us that we must move faster. If there are no breakthroughs or changes in government, what is the point of remaining? That would be meaningless,” he added.
On evaluating progress, Loke said the assessment of his performance should be made by the people and party members, not by himself.
“Whether the goals are achieved is not for me to decide. It is for the people and party members to evaluate. I will do my best to push it forward and accomplish as much as I can,” he said, adding that he would leverage his Cabinet role to monitor outcomes and drive policy implementation.
With the next general election expected within the next year to 18 months, Loke noted that the July polling assessment would serve as a critical turning point for the party’s strategy and positioning. - February 20, 2026
