PUTRAJAYA, Aug 16 — DAP delegates today overwhelmingly voted for the party to remain in the federal government until the end of the current parliamentary term.

Congress speaker Cha Kee Chin announced that 1,857 delegates voted to stay, while 242 voted to leave the government.

Of the 2,106 delegates who voted, seven ballots were spoiled.

In a press conference after the results were announced, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the outcome gave the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) and its leaders in government a mandate to continue serving and pursuing reforms.

“So, this is a mandate to the CEC and to the party leaders representing the party in the government to continue serving, to continue our work, to continue the reform agenda, and to focus on implementing the changes and promises that we have made in the Pakatan Harapan manifesto.

“This is a responsibility and mandate that has been given by the delegates to us at the leadership level,” he said.

Loke also defended the turnout, saying attendance of more than half of eligible delegates was considered high for a DAP national congress, particularly as delegates were drawn from party branches across the country.

He said many delegates were small business owners, hawkers and traders who had to return to their businesses rather than attend the congress.

“Not everyone can attend. Even when there is a party election, usually only about 70 per cent attend. In fact, having more than half of the delegates attending is considered very high for a DAP national congress,” he said.

Loke said DAP would respect the 12 per cent of delegates who voted to leave the government, but the party must follow the decision of the 88 per cent majority.

“I respect the 12 per cent who made that decision. That is their opinion. They believe in it. They are not influenced. They are free to vote.

“But as a party, we also need to follow the opinion of the majority. The majority has made their decision with the confidence of the majority, the 88 per cent,” he said.

Loke said the decision was also intended to prevent political instability, stressing that delegates understood the need for DAP to work with Umno as part of the unity government.

“We do not want to create instability in the government.

“As I said, the delegates have decided that we should remain in the government. This is their expectation, knowing that we need to work with Umno. This is a political reality that all the delegates understand,” he said.

He said the decision was brought to the national congress precisely because the party wanted to respect the democratic process.

“That is why we brought this to the National Congress. We need to respect the democratic process. That is why I brought this to the National Congress and they made the decision,” he said.

Loke also rejected suggestions that DAP had used the congress vote to pressure Anwar into adopting its own political agenda, saying the reforms advocated by the party were jointly agreed upon by Pakatan Harapan and the unity government.

“We know our political opponents say that we want to use this convention or congress to pressure the Prime Minister with the DAP agenda.

“The DAP agenda is an agenda that has been jointly agreed upon within Pakatan Harapan and jointly agreed upon within the unity government,” he said.

He pointed to the proposed separation of the roles of Attorney General and Public Prosecutor, a two-term limit for the prime minister and efforts to combat corruption as examples of reforms that were not solely DAP initiatives.

“There are several reforms that have already been implemented immediately. For example, the separation of the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor roles. That is an agenda that has been jointly agreed upon.

“The agenda to limit the Prime Minister’s tenure to two terms, that is a joint agenda.

“The agenda to fight corruption, that is a joint agenda. It is not solely a DAP agenda,” he said.

Loke also cited the implementation of e-invoicing as an example of a reform that had support within the unity government, noting that the initiative had also been brought to Cabinet by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said DAP had been advocating the measure for a long time.

The vote took place after DAP’s national congress today debated whether the party should remain in the federal government or withdraw while continuing to support the administration from outside.

The debate followed DAP’s electoral setbacks in Sabah, Johor and Negeri Sembilan, with several delegates calling for the party to remain in government but push harder for reforms and better delivery.