2025 Democratic Action Party National Congress

Officers and attendees

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.

Candidates

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.

Non-candidates co-opted to the CEC

5 non-candidates, Andrew Chen Kah Eng, Papparaidu Veraman, Thulsi Thivani Manogaran, Tony Pua Kiam Wee and Yap Yee Vonne were co-opted to the CEC on 23 June 2025. Chen, Papparaidu, Thulsi Thivani and Yap were co-opted as the Committee Members while Pua was co-opted as the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee.

Outgoing CEC members

The following CEC members did not contest in the election for re-election. Tan Kok Wai was later co-opted to the CEC as the Advisor II on 23 June 2025.

CEC leadership changes

Lim Guan Eng

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

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]