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2025 Democratic Action Party National Congress

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2025 Democratic Action Party National Convention
Convention
Date(s)16 March 2025
CityShah Alam, Selangor
VenueIDCC Ideal Convention Centre
ChairLeong Ngah Ngah (Speaker)
Noorita Sual & Kesavadas Achyuthan Nair (Deputy Speakers)
Keynote speakerAnthony Loke Siew Fook (Secretary-General)
Notable speakersAnwar Ibrahim (Prime Minister)
Lim Guan Eng (National Chairman)
Voting
Total delegates4,203
Ballots89,885
‹ 2022 · 2028 ›

The 2025 Democratic Action Party National Congress, or the 18th Democratic Action Party National Congress, was a Malaysian political event that was held in IDCC Ideal Convention Centre, Shah Alam, Selangor on 16 March 2025. The event elected the Central Executive Committee (CEC), the highest decision-making body of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, for the next 3-year term, from 2025 to 2028. During the congress, the delegates voted for candidates for the CEC. The 30 candidates who won the most votes, with 9 women, were elected to the CEC.

Background

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The congress is the 18th in the history of the party. It is the first since the party became part of the federal government, as a component party of the PH coalition, which formed a coalition government with the Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators of Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Heritage Party (WARISAN) with the support, confidence and supply of the Social Democratic Harmony Party (KDM), Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) and independent MPs as a result of a hung parliament elected in the 2022 general election. The government led by Chairman of PH Anwar Ibrahim as Prime Minister was named the 'Unity Government', named after the large number of coaltions and parties forming the government despite technically not being a unity government, a type of government where there is no opposition in Parliament, however, Perikatan Nasional (PN) and the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) are the opposition coalition and party in Parliament, and 'Madani Government', named after the government slogan 'Malaysia Madani'. The previous 17 congresses were held when the party was in the opposition, with the 17th and most recent one on 20 March 2022. Although this is the second time the party became a part of the government, the party did not hold a congress during its brief first term in government, from the 10 May 2018 to 24 February 2020, the time between the 16th on 12 November 2017 and 17th congress. The congress was to elect the CEC for the 3-year term from 2025 to 2028, approve the amendments to the party constitution, among others.

Congress leadership and attendance

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Officers and attendees

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The chair of the congress was State Advisor of DAP of Pahang Leong Ngah Ngah and the vice chairs of the congress were Senators Noorita Sual and Kesavadas Achyuthan Nair while the returning officer of the CEC election was Desmond Tan. On 3 March 2025, Sim confirmed the attendance of Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Chairman of PH, President of the People's Justice Party (PKR) and MP for Tambun Anwar Ibrahim, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, President of the National Trust Party (AMANAH) and MP for Kota Raja Mohamad Sabu, Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development, President of the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) and MP for Penampang Ewon Benedick as well as Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Costs of Living, Senator and Secretary-General of PKR Fuziah Salleh as the guests of the congress representing fellow PH component parties. Anwar, Mohamad and Ewon later attended. In addition to them, Minister of Home Affairs, Senator and Advisor of the Management Committee of PKR Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Deputy Minister of National Unity, Senator and Vice President of PKR Saraswathy Kandasami, Deputy Minister of Defence, MP for Alor Gajah and Vice President of AMANAH Adly Zahari also turned up at the congress.

Selection of delegates

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The Constitution of DAP states that each party branch of at least 25 members has to send 2 delegates, usually the chairman and vice chairman, to the congress to vote in the CEC election.[1] An additional delegate, usually the secretary, is allowed for branches with membership exceeding 50 and for branches exceeding 100 members, an incremental addition is allowed for every additional 100 paid up members. A branch usually sent 2 to 3 delegates. All elected representatives, the MPs and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of the party, alongside other incumbent CEC members are also entitled to attend the congress as delegates. The party had 40 MPs and 90 MLAs at the time of the congress. According to Khoo Poay Tiong, the incumbent Assistant National Organising Secretary, the number of delegates was 4,203, the highest in the history of the party congress. The delegates were from 1,650 party branches nationwide, with an average number of 2.55 delegates per branch.

Nominating and voting

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Each party branch nominated 30 candidates for the CEC, and each candidates must receive at least 2 branch nominations to qualify for the election. 107 party members qualified. The party notified the candidates, and they were given 14 days to decide whether to accept the nomination, the candidates who accepted were still allowed to withdraw from the election. The votes received by the withdrawn candidates were invalid. The nominations closed on 31 January 2025 and the deadline on accepting the nominations was on 14 February 2025. After that, the party headquarters verified the list of candidates. The full list of candidates for the election was then announced by Sim on 3 March 2025. 70 candidates accepted. 6 later withdrew from the election, they were Edmund Teoh Kheng Yaik on 14 March 2025 as well as Kalidas Komarawelo, Kaliyappan P Renganathan, Nicole Tan Lee Koon, Phee Syn Tze and Soon Lip Chee on 15 March 2025. 64 others remained in the election. According to Khoo, the party appointed a private international audit firm to handle the vote counting and ballot opening process to ensure the transparency and fairness of the election. Due to the large number of delegates and the limited venue capacity, only the delegates were allowed to enter the hall during the congress. The party headquarters also named a 300-member special task force to maintain order at the venue. Clause VIII Section 14 allows each delegate to vote for 30 members to elect the CEC for the upcoming term of 3 years.[1]

Results

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Candidates

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Clause VIII Section 16 of the Constitution of DAP states that a 30% quota of the CEC elected membership, which is 9 members, is reserved for female candidates.[1] The full list of candidates was announced on 3 March 2025. There were 70 candidates, out of them, 55 were men while 15 were women.

Elected
Co-opted
Defeated
Withdrawn
No. Name Gender Number of votes Rank Position CEC position before the election CEC position after the election References
18 Gobind Singh Deo Male 2,785 1 National Deputy Chairman National Chairman
11 Chong Chieng Jen Male 2,631 2
National Vice Chairman National Vice Chairman
59 Teo Nie Ching Female 2,585 3
National Publicity Secretary National Vice Chairperson
35 Ng Suee Lim Male 2,563 4
Assistant National Organising Secretary National Vice Chairman
33 Anthony Loke Siew Fook Male 2,508 5
Secretary-General Secretary-General [2]
67 Yeo Bee Yin Female 2,503 6
– National Publicity Secretary
36 Ng Sze Han Male 2,437 7
Assistant National Treasurer Assistant National Treasurer
23 Khoo Poay Tiong Male 2,390 8
Assistant National Organising Secretary National Organising Secretary [3]
8 Chan Foong Hin Male 2,362 9 Committee Member National Policy Director
64 Wong Kah Woh Male 2,265 10
National Political Education Director National Election Director
48 Steven Sim Chee Keong Male 2,262 11
National Organising Secretary Deputy Secretary-General
63 Vivian Wong Shir Yee Female 2,244 12
Committee Member Assistant National Political Education Director
38 Nga Kor Ming Male 2,215 13
National Vice Chairman National Deputy Chairman
24 Lee Chin Chen Male 2,172 14
  • Pahang State Deputy Speaker
  • MLA for Bilut
  • State Chairman of DAP of Pahang
 Committee Member Assistant National Organising Secretary
69 Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan Female 2,169 15
Assistant National Publicity Secretary Deputy Secretary-General
1 Alice Lau Kiong Yieng Female 2,156 16
Committee Member Assistant International Secretary
32 Liow Cai Tung Female 2,139 17
  • MLA for Johor Jaya
  • Women Organising Secretary of DAP
  • State Organising Secretary of DAP of Johor
 – Committee Member
58 Teo Kok Seong Male 2,107 18
Committee Member Committee Member
12 Chow Kon Yeow Male 2,101 19 National Vice Chairman Committee Member [4]
54 Syahredzan Johan Male 2,065 20
  • MP for Bangi
  • State Political Education Director of DAP of Selangor
 Committee Member National Vice Chairman
70 Young Syefura Othman Female 1,943 21
  • MP for Bentong
  • Vice Women Chief of DAP
  • State Vice Chairperson of DAP of Pahang
 Committee Member Assistant National Publicity Secretary [5]
27 Liew Chin Tong Male 1,929 22 Deputy Secretary-General National Strategic Director
44 Ramkarpal Singh Male 1,917 23
– Deputy Secretary-General [6]
5 Arul Kumar Jambunathan Male 1,747 24
– National Vice Chairman
21 Kasthuriraani Patto Female 1,722 25 Vice Women Chief of DAP Assistant International Secretary International Secretary [7]
29 Lim Guan Eng Male 1,719 26
National Chairman Advisor
25 Howard Lee Chuan How Male 1,703 27
Committee Member National Political Education Director [8]
65 Wong Shu Qi Female 1,655 28
  • Chairperson of the Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp)
  • MP for Kluang
  • State Deputy Chairperson of DAP of Johor
 Assistant National Political Education Director Assistant National Publicity Secretary [8]
55 Tan Hong Pin Male 1,585 29 MP for Bakri Committee Member Assistant National Organising Secretary
39 Ngeh Koo Ham Male 1,584 30
– National Treasurer
30 Lim Hui Ying Female 1,573 31
Committee Member –
50 Sivakumar Varatharaju Male 1,542 32
Deputy Secretary-General – [9]
22 Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen Male 1,419 33
– –
60 Teresa Kok Suh Sim Female 1,331 34
National Vice Chairperson – [5]
46 Sanisvara Nethaji Rayer Rajaji Rayer Male 1,311 35
Committee Member –
31 Lim Lip Eng Male 1,300 36
Committee Member –
13 Chow Yu Hui Male 1,261 37
  • MP for Raub
  • State Political Education Director of DAP of Pahang
 – –
17 Ganabatirau Veraman Male 1,254 38
Assistant National Publicity Secretary –
61 Tiew Way Keng Female 1,196 39
– –
26 Leng Chau Yen Female 1,127 40
  • Melaka State Deputy EXCO Member
  • MLA for Bandar Hilir
  • State Vice Chairperson of DAP of Melaka
 – –
14 Ean Yong Hian Wah Male 1,031 41
– –
66 Vincent Wu Him Ven Male 1,026 42 – Committee Member –
68 Yeoh Soon Hin Male 1,014 43
  • Chairman of the Penang Port Commission (PPC)
  • Deputy Chairman of Tourism Malaysia
  • State Vice Chairman of DAP of Penang
 – –
16 Ben Fong Kok Seng Male 970 44 Treasurer of DAP of Kuala Lumpur – –
10 Chew Chong Sin Male 953 45
– –
56 Tan Kok Yew Male 857 46 State Chairman of DAP of Kedah – –
28 Lim Eng Guan Male 756 47 – – –
52 Thomas Su Keong Siong Male 755 48
Committee Member –
57 Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji Male 694 49
  • MLA for Tras
  • State Committee Member of DAP of Pahang
 Deputy Secretary-General –
7 Boo Cheng Hau Male 654 50 – – –
43 Rajiv Rishyakaran Male 494 51
– –
47 Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali Male 478 52
  • Chairman of the Malaysia Pineapple Industry Board (MPIB)
  • State Vice Chairman of DAP of Johor
 Committee Member –
37 Ng Yak Howe Male 443 53
– –
34 Mordi Bimol Male 299 54
–
62 Veerapan Superamaniam Male 296 55
  • Negeri Sembilan State EXCO Member
  • MLA for Repah
 – –
3 Apalasamy Jataliah Male 280 56 – – –
42 Pooi Weng Keong Male 268 57 – – –
45 Ravi Apalasamy Male 198 58 – – –
6 Azaha Abdul Rani Male 191 59 – – –
49 Sinasamy Subramaniam Male 178 60 – – –
53 Supian Zaharin Male 170 61 – – –
2 Ananda Rao Apparalam Male 156 62 – – –
4 Arivom Namasivaya K Kannan Male 138 63 – – –
9 Chang Choon Bak Male 109 64 – – –
15 Edmund Teoh Kheng Yaik[note 2] Male N/A Publicity Secretary of DAP of Kuala Lumpur[note 2][11] – – [12]
19 Kalidas Komarawelo[note 3] Male – – – [13]
20 Kaliyappan P Renganathan[note 3] Male – – – [13]
40 Nicole Tan Lee Koon[note 3] Female
– – [14]
41 Phee Syn Tze[note 3] Female
– – [13]
51 Soon Lip Chee[note 3] Male State Assistant Publicity Secretary of DAP of Penang – – [13]

Outgoing CEC members

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The following CEC members did not contest in the election for re-election.

No. Name Gender Position CEC position Date confirmed Reason References
1 Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew Male – Committee Member 24 June 2023 Left the party [15]
2 Tan Kok Wai Male
Advisor 19 February 2025 Retired [16]
3 Fong Kui Lun Male
National Treasurer 19 February 2025 [16]
4 Kulasegaran Murugeson Male National Vice Chairman 21 February 2025 [17]
5 Jannie Lasimbang Female
  • Chairperson of the Rural Development Corporation (KPD) of Sabah
  • MLA for Kapayan
  • State Vice Chairperson of DAP of Sabah
 International Secretary 3 March 2025 Not contesting for re-election [18]

CEC leadership changes

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Party leadership changes following the 2025 CEC election
Position Holder before Holder after References
Advisor Tan Kok Wai Lim Guan Eng
National Chairman Lim Guan Eng Gobind Singh Deo
National Deputy Chairman Gobind Singh Deo Nga Kor Ming
National Vice Chairperson
Secretary-General Anthony Loke Siew Fook Anthony Loke Siew Fook
Deputy Secretary-General
National Treasurer Fong Kui Lun Ngeh Koo Ham
Assistant National Treasurer Ng Sze Han Ng Sze Han
National Organising Secretary Steven Sim Chee Keong Khoo Poay Tiong
Assistant National Organising Secretary
National Publicity Secretary Teo Nie Ching Yeo Bee Yin
Assistant National Publicity Secretary
International Secretary Jannie Lasimbang Kasthuriraani Patto
Assistant International Secretary Kasthuriraani Patto Alice Lau Kiong Yieng
National Political Education Director Wong Kah Woh Howard Lee Chuan How
Assistant National Political Education Director Wong Shu Qi Vivian Wong Shir Yee
National Strategic Director Position established Liew Chin Tong
National Policy Director Chan Foong Hin
National Election Director Wong Kah Woh
Parliamentary Leader Nga Kor Ming TBA
Committee Member

Notable speeches

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Aftermath

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Controversies and issues

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Lim Guan Eng

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Lim Guan Eng, the incumbent National Chairman of DAP

There was public attention to Lim Guan Eng, the incumbent National Chairman, on whether he would contest, win in the CEC election and defend his position and issues related to him in the election, including his possible successors for the position. On 3 March 2025, Steven Sim Chee Keong, the incumbent National Organising Secretary announced the full list of candidates, Lim was confirmed to be contesting. Lim garnered 1,719 votes, placing him at the 26th place and was reelected to the CEC. Lim was later appointed as the new Advisor, replacing Tan Kok Wai while incumbent National Deputy Chairman Gobind Singh Deo who was reelected to the CEC with 2,785 votes, placing him at the 1st place, was named as the new National Chairman, taking over the position from Lim.

Candidate detained for alleged corruption

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On 6 March 2025, it was reported that a CEC candidate had been detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for 4 days over alleged corruption. The candidate, a former assistant to a DAP MP, was accused of awarding a school contract without an open tender. Party members reported him, believing the case is politically motivated ahead of the party election and linked to election rivalries. He allegedly designated a specific contractor for purchasing interactive whiteboards, leading to accusations of overpricing. However, he insisted that he followed procedures and submitted documents for approval, though the MP denies reviewing them. Meanwhile, the youth wing of DAP, the DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) of Seputeh condemned the MACC's actions, calling them selective investigations aimed at creating a chilling effect during the election. They urged authorities to remain neutral and uphold democratic fairness.[19] In response, Teresa Kok Suh Sim, the incumbent National Vice Chairperson, CEC candidate and MP for Seputeh, expressed her shock over the MACC's investigation and detention of her two former aides, including Edmund Teoh Kheng Yaik, the Publicity Secretary of DAP of Kuala Lumpur and CEC candidate, for questioning. She emphasised that the case was unrelated to her, that she was unaware of the MACC's reasons, and that it was beyond her control. She urged against baseless accusations. She also linked the probe to the Federal Territories Education Department procurement inquiry. She mentioned that on 14 November 2024, she questioned the justification for the department's purchase of interactive whiteboards in Parliament. She had also shared her remarks in a speech publicly for transparency. She also expressed regret and disappointment over accusations from some party members and the families of the detained aides, who blamed her for the MACC's actions against them and emphasised MACC's independence, urging against speculation that could disrupt the investigation.[20] Besides, a viral video showed a tearful woman, claiming to be Teoh's mother, demanding an explanation and answer from Kok after Teoh's detention by the MACC. She stated that Teoh had assisted Kok since he was 17 and expressed sadness and heartbreak over his arrest.[21]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Replaced with Woo Kah Leong in the position on 11 March 2025, 5 days before the election.
  2. ^ a b Withdrew from the election on 14 March 2025, 2 days before the election.
  3. ^ a b c d e Withdrew from the election on 15 March 2025, 1 day before the election.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Party Constitution". dapmalaysia.org. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  2. ^ "【独家】行动党316改选 陆兆福表态寻求蝉联秘书长". Oriental Daily News (in Chinese). 21 January 2025. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  3. ^ "Khoo Poay Tiong to defend DAP CEC seat". Free Malaysia Today. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  4. ^ "Chow Kon Yeow to contest for DAP CEC post at upcoming polls". The Star. 23 February 2025. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Pemilihan CEC DAP: Teresa, Young Syefura pertahan jawatan". Berita Harian (in Malay). 21 February 2025. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  6. ^ "Ramkarpal enters fray, Kasthuri to defend DAP CEC seat". Free Malaysia Today. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  7. ^ "Ramkarpal enters fray, Kasthuri to defend DAP CEC seat". Free Malaysia Today. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  8. ^ a b "3 young DAP leaders to defend CEC seats in party polls". New Straits Times. 22 February 2025. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  9. ^ "Ex-HR minister Sivakumar to contest DAP polls". Free Malaysia Today. 24 February 2025. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Woo Kah Leong is the new PH Youth chief". Free Malaysia Today. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  11. ^ "Teresa Kok's ex-aide quits DAP posts, withdraws from CEC contest amid MACC probe". New Straits Times. 14 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  12. ^ Dermawan, Audrey (14 March 2025). "Sim confirms Teoh won't contest in DAP CEC elections | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  13. ^ a b c d "行动党改选︱槟火箭4名候选人宣布 退出竞选". 中國報 China Press (in Chinese (China)). 15 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  14. ^ kailing.tan@8tv.com.my (15 March 2025). "【火箭党选】"党利益优先" 陈丽群宣布退选！". 8TV News. Retrieved 15 March 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "Liu calls it a day, quits DAP". The Star. 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  16. ^ a b "DAP veterans Tan and Fong pull out of CEC polls". The Star. 19 February 2025. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  17. ^ "Kulasegaran latest DAP veteran to withdraw from party re-election, wants younger generation to lead instead". Malay Mail. 21 February 2025. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  18. ^ "70 candidates to contest in highly anticipated DAP polls on March 16". KTemoc Konsiders. 3 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  19. ^ "独家【行动党改选】党内举报涉贪 火箭中委候选人被扣". Sin Chew Daily (in Chinese). 6 March 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  20. ^ "对2前助理被扣录供感震惊 郭素沁:与我无关". Sin Chew Daily (in Chinese). 6 March 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  21. ^ 行动党党员涉嫌贪污案 | 疑似张庆益母亲促郭素沁交代. Sin Chew Daily (in Chinese). 7 March 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
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