KUALA LUMPUR — Any move by Democratic Action Party (DAP) leaders to resign from their ministerial and GLC posts would not automatically trigger a general election, as long as the party continues to support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament, political analysts said.
Their comments came after DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the party would use its national congress in July to decide whether it should continue holding posts in the federal government.
Senior DAP figures have signalled that the party could reconsider its role in the unity government following its disappointing performance in the Sabah state election. Some leaders have suggested that DAP ministers could step down from Cabinet positions if reforms demanded by the party are not delivered within six months.
The proposal is seen as an attempt to placate grassroots supporters, particularly in Peninsular Malaysia, amid concerns that remaining in government alongside Barisan Nasional has diluted the party’s reformist image.However, analysts said such a move would be largely symbolic unless DAP also withdraws its parliamentary support for Anwar’s administration.
‘Largely symbolic’ without pulling support
Professor of geopolitics and Fellow of the National Council of Professors Azmi Hassan said DAP’s posture was aimed at showing supporters in the peninsula that it still wielded influence within the government.“DAP wants to show supporters in the peninsula that it can still exert pressure on the government,” he said.
Azmi argued that the party had already lost strategic leverage after Anwar reshuffled his Cabinet in December, which he described as a “pre-emptive strike” by the prime minister.
He said Anwar had strengthened DAP’s position in government by reallocating key portfolios to its leaders.
Under the reshuffle, Steven Sim was moved from the Human Resources Ministry to become Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister, while Hannah Yeoh was appointed Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Federal Territories.
Sim replaced Datuk Ewon Benedick, who resigned ahead of the Sabah state election, while Yeoh relinquished the Youth and Sports portfolio to Sungai Petani MP Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari. Datuk Seri R. Ramanan was promoted to full minister and took over the Human Resources Ministry.
“If you want to secure support in Peninsular Malaysia, you give them important portfolios. In this case, Steven Sim and Hannah Yeoh,” Azmi said.
He added that DAP was unlikely to surrender its Cabinet positions entirely, warning that such a move would benefit its political rivals.
“They cannot afford to leave the government because it would be seen as a major victory for Umno,” he said.
