Gobind says DAP must chase reforms Unity partners can deliver, not manifesto wish‑lists
PUTRAJAYA, Aug 16 — 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 said this was important after three and a half years of DAP’s participation in the Unity Government, allowing the party to review its achievements and shortcomings during the period before charting its future course.
“We accept the decision of the people, the people’s choice. But the results have prompted us to reconsider how we should move forward,” he said in his welcoming speech at the DAP Party Conference 2026 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) here today.
Also present were party secretary-general Anthony Loke, vice-chairmen Chong Chieng Jen, Teo Nie Ching, Ng Suee Lim, Syahredzan Johan and J. Arul Kumar, as well as DAP advisers Lim Guan Eng and Tan Kok Wai.
Gobind said that as part of a multi-party government, DAP needed to be realistic by prioritising reforms that could secure consensus among the coalition partners, rather than seeking to implement the party’s entire manifesto on its own.
“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 said.
Gobind also proposed that a special Parliament sitting be convened soon to debate and approve amendments to key laws, including the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA), as part of efforts to advance the institutional reform agenda.
He said the proposed amendments should also cover the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, the separation of the Attorney General’s and Public Prosecutor’s powers, as well as 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 said.
On the economy, Gobind said the government needed 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 said.
He said political stability was important in convincing foreign investors to choose Malaysia as an investment destination, which would in turn create more job opportunities.
The conference today is expected to see Loke table a motion 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.
