Putrajaya: DAP must use the results of recent state elections as a basis to reassess its direction and ensure the party remains relevant in the country's evolving political landscape, its national chairman Gobind Singh Deo said. He emphasized the importance of this reassessment after three and a half years of DAP's participation in the Unity Government, which has provided the opportunity to review the party's achievements and shortcomings during this period before charting its future course.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Gobind stated, "We accept the decision of the people, the people's choice. But the results have prompted us to reconsider how we should move forward," during his welcoming speech at the DAP Party Conference 2026 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC). Present at the conference were party secretary-general Anthony Loke, vice-chairmen Chong Chieng Jen, Teo Nie Ching, Ng Suee Lim, Syahredzan Johan, and J. Arul Kumar, along with DAP advisers Lim Guan Eng and Tan Kok Wai.
Gobind highlighted that as part of a multi-party government, DAP needs to be realistic by prioritising reforms that could secure consensus among the coalition partners, rather than attempting to implement the party's entire manifesto independently. "We need to look at what can actually be agreed upon by all the parties and implemented, so that we can ensure the reforms or changes that need to be made are carried out," he asserted.
Additionally, Gobind proposed convening a special Parliament sitting soon to debate and approve amendments to key laws, including the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA), to advance the institutional reform agenda. He stated that the proposed amendments should also cover the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, the separation of the Attorney General's and Public Prosecutor's powers, and limiting the Prime Minister's tenure to two terms. "These steps are important to show that the government is truly serious about institutional reform, to ensure transparent governance and prevent the abuse of power," he remarked.
On the economic front, Gobind stressed the need for the government to better understand the challenges faced by the people and take measures to ease their burden, while maintaining political stability to attract foreign investment. "We want to ensure that we can move forward by understanding the challenges actually faced by society. The government needs to take action to ease the burden on the people, particularly in terms of the economy," he noted. He added that political stability is crucial in convincing foreign investors to choose Malaysia as an investment destination, which would in turn create more job opportunities.
The conference today is anticipated to include a motion tabled by Loke on whether the party should remain in or withdraw from the government bloc until the end of the 16th Parliament term. A total of 4,264 delegates from 1,704 eligible branches will decide on the motion through a secret ballot after the debate. This year's conference is also being held in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of DAP's establishment. The party is one of the three main component parties of Pakatan Harapan (PH), alongside PKR and Amanah.