Anwar bends on pressure, says Ong but Howard Lee warns of backlash on Sunday’s DAP vote

 

OVER 4,000 delegates from the DAP will gather on Sunday (Aug 16) for a pivotal special conference that could redefine Malaysia’s political landscape.

Up for a vote is a sharp choice: should DAP cabinet ministers retain their positions through the end of the term or resign while staying on as government backbenchers?

The high-stakes ballot pits the pragmatism of government stability against the principled push for urgent political reform, laying bare intense internal debates as party leaders and members stake out competing visions for DAP’s survival.

Stability over emotional revolts

Proponents of the “retention” option argue that an abrupt exit risks self-sabotage, threatening macro stability ahead of critical parliamentary hurdles like the 2027 budget bill.

DAP Political Education Director Howard Lee Chuan How warned against treating the upcoming ballot as an outlet for collective anger.

Citing international precedents – including Belgium’s N-VA losing seats after leaving government in 2018, and the Netherlands’ PVV shrinking after forcing a collapse – Lee argued that walkouts rarely yield political rewards.

“These precedents debunk the assumption that leaving government automatically restores credibility or erases compromises made while in power,” Lee cautioned, stressing that resignation would not absolve the party of past shortcomings and could invite blame for subsequent instability.

Lee emphasised that the party’s options extend beyond staying unconditionally or leaving immediately.

Instead, DAP could leverage its position by setting clear timelines and reform demands, establishing a transparent political case before any formal exit.

Similarly, delegates advocating retention highlight the risk of opening the door for rival coalitions to trigger early general elections amid volatile global economic conditions.

Forcing Anwar’s hand

On the opposing side, proponents of the “resignation” option contend that remaining silently in cabinet strips DAP of its core identity and reformist credibility.

Former Deputy Minister Dr Ong Kian Ming (writing in a widely shared piece) argued that forcing DAP leaders to resign from cabinet—while continuing support as parliamentary backbenchers – is the single effective lever to compel Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to deliver on key election promises before the 16th General Election (GE16).

“PMX will only respond when faced with strong pressure – whether from individuals, groups, organisations, or specific political circumstances,” Ong stated, noting that unconditional support signals acquiescence to unfulfilled institutional reforms and controversial government decisions.

Ong highlighted that a “resignation” vote does not dictate an immediate, chaotic exit. Instead, it provides DAP leadership strategic leverage to negotiate a controlled transition – such as resigning only after passing the 2027 budget, in exchange for concrete legislative wins like a 10-year prime ministerial term limit and an Equal Allocation Bill.

“These actions may not guarantee power after GE16, but at least DAP can confidently say: we are willing to withdraw from the government based on our principles rather than being accused of protecting our own interests by choosing to stay,” Ong urged.

A defining moment

Whether DAP delegates choose to maintain their executive presence or pull back to the backbenches, Sunday’s secret ballot marks a historic turning point. For Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration, the outcome will signal whether its key coalition partner will remain a steady pillar of executive governance or an increasingly demanding backbench watchdog. —  Focus Malaysia