# 2022 Democratic Action Party National Congress

The 2022 Democratic Action Party National Congress was a central executive committee (CEC) electing congress that was held on 20 March 2022, at the IDCC Ideal Convention Centre in Shah Alam, Selangor. At the congress, delegates of the Malaysian Democratic Action Party (DAP) formally chose former transport minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook and former finance minister Lim Guan Eng as the party's secretary-general and national chairman, respectively, for the term 2021–2024.
Originally scheduled to be held 20 December 2020, simultaneously at Shah Alam, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuching, the congress was twice postponed, first to 20 June 2021, then again to 20 March 2022, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in Malaysia.

## Background

The congress was the 17th DAP National Congress. There was heightened public attention to this congress edition as it will see the DAP elect a new secretary-general with the outgoing Lim Guan Eng having served the maximum three terms provided by the party constitution.

### Selection of delegates

The DAP's constitution provides for every party branch with at least 25 members to send 2 delegates as their representative. An additional delegate 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. All of DAP's elected representatives, Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), alongside other incumbent CEC members are also entitled to attend the congress as delegates. Clause VIII Section 14 allows every delegate to vote for 30 members each to fill the CEC for the upcoming term.
At present, the northwestern states of Penang and Perak consists of the most branches and members, and thus, sends the highest number of delegates.

## Logistics
### Delay

The congress was originally scheduled to be held 20 December 2020.
On 21 January 2022, it was announced that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the congress would again be delayed to 20 March 2022. Then-national organising secretary Anthony Loke announced that this decision was made by the party CEC in line with the advice given by Malaysia's Registrar of Societies (RoS) that the party should hold its triennial congress before 31 March 2022.

### Health protocols

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a number of protocols have been put in place.
Participants at IDCC Ideal Convention Centre were required to wear personal protective equipment, undergo daily COVID-19 testing, and follow National Security Council (NSC) guidelines, and health ministry (MOH) standard operating procedures (SOPs).

## Congress leadership
### Officers

Former Tanjong Batu MLA Chiew Chiu Sing served as the chair of the congress. The deputy chairs of the congress were Nilai MLA Arul Kumar Jambunathan and Seri Delima MLA Syerleena Abdul Rashid.
The congress' returning officer was John Lau Tiang Hua.

## Nominating and voting
### Central Executive Committee voting
#### Vote

The table below reflects the delegate votes. Voting results were audited and confirmed by Grant Thornton Malaysia PLT. A total of 93 candidates vied for 30 positions in the CEC.
Clause VIII Section 16 of the DAP's constitution state that a thirty per cent quota (30%) of the CEC is reserved for female members translating to at least nine members.
* Co-opted into Central Executive Committee
* Elected into the Central Executive Committee
| No. | Candidate | Votes | Rank | Position/notability |
| 21 | Gobind Singh Deo | 1,782 | 1 | 10th Communications and Multimedia Minister of MalaysiaMP for PuchongDeputy National Chairman of Democratic Action PartyChairman of Democratic Action Party, Selangor |
| 14 | Chow Kon Yeow | 1,641 | 2 | 5th Chief Minister of PenangMP for TanjongMLA for Padang KotaNational Vice-Chairman of Democratic Action PartyChairman of Democratic Action Party, Penang |
| 42 | Anthony Loke Siew Fook | 1,625 | 3 | 15th Transport Minister of MalaysiaMP for SerembanMLA for ChennahNational Organising Secretary of Democratic Action Party2nd Parliamentary Leader of Democratic Action PartyChairman of Democratic Action Party, Negeri Sembilan |
| 79 | Teresa Kok Suh Sim | 1,373 | 4 | 11th Primary Industries Minister of MalaysiaMP for SeputehDeputy Secretary-General of Democratic Action Party |
| 91 | Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan | 1,346 | 5 | 10th Speaker of the Selangor State Legislative AssemblyMP for SegambutCentral Executive Committee Member of Democratic Action Party |
| 19 | Fong Kui Lun | 1,341 | 6 | MP for Bukit BintangNational Treasurer of Democratic Action PartyDeputy Chairman of Democratic Action Party, Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory |
| 61 | Steven Sim Chee Keong | 1,340 | 7 | MP for Bukit Mertajam |
| 37 | Lim Guan Eng | 1,311 | 8 | 17th Finance Minister of Malaysia4th Chief Minister of PenangMP for BaganMLA for Air Putih5th Secretary-General of Democratic Action Party |
| 50 | Ng Sze Han | 1,282 | 9 | MLA for Kinrara |
| 49 | Ng Suee Lim | 1,279 | 10 | 11th Speaker of the Selangor State Legislative AssemblyMLA for Sekinchan |
| 69 | Tan Kok Wai | 1,263 | 11 | 2nd Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Malaysia to ChinaMP for Cheras4th National Chairman of Democratic Action PartyChairman of Democratic Action Party, Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory |
| 52 | Nga Kor Ming | 1,262 | 12 | 19th Deputy Speaker of the Dewan RakyatMP for Teluk IntanMLA for AulongDeputy Secretary-General of Democratic Action PartyChairman of Democratic Action Party, Perak |
| 43 | Kulasegaran Murugeson | 1,226 | 13 | 13th Human Resources Minister of MalaysiaMP for Ipoh BaratNational Vice-Chairman of Democratic Action Party |
| 40 | Lim Lip Eng | 1,156 | 14 | MP for Kepong |
| 38 | Lim Hui Ying | 1,155 | 15 | Senator of Malaysia for Penang |
| 11 | Chong Chieng Jen | 1,154 | 16 | MP for StampinMLA for PadunganNational Vice-Chairman of Democratic Action PartyChairman of Democratic Action Party, Sarawak |
| 03 | Alice Lau Kiong Yieng | 1,119 | 17 | MP for LanangDeputy Chairman of Democratic Action Party, Sarawak |
| 08 | Chan Foong Hin | 1,101 | 18 | MP for Kota Kinabalu |
| 77 | Teo Nie Ching | 1,071 | 19 | MP for KulaiInternational Secretary of Democratic Action PartyDeputy Chairman of Democratic Action Party, Johor |
| 41 | Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew | 1,070 | 20 | MLA for Sungai PelekCentral Executive Committee Member of Democratic Action Party |
| 86 | Wong Kah Woh | 1,069 | 21 | MP for Ipoh TimorCentral Executive Committee Member of Democratic Action Party |
| 35 | Liew Chin Tong | 1,008 | 22 | MLA for PerlingNational Director of Political Education of Democratic Action PartyChairman of Democratic Action Party, Johor |
| 68 | Tan Hong Pin | 992 | 23 | |
| 92 | Young Syefura Othman | 991 | 24 | MLA for Ketari |
| 27 | Kasthuriraani Patto | 978 | 25 | MP for Batu Kawan |
| 76 | Teo Kok Seong | 976 | 26 | Negeri Sembilan State Executive CouncillorMLA for Bahau |
| 66 | Thomas Su Keong Siong | 953 | 27 | MP for KamparAssistant National Organising Secretary of Democratic Action Party |
| 89 | Vincent Wu Him Ven | 950 | 28 | |
| 29 | Khoo Poay Tiong | 940 | 29 | MP for Kota MelakaAssistant National Organising Secretary of Democratic Action Party |
| 88 | Wong Shu Qi | 939 | 30 | MP for Kluang |
| 70 | Tan Kok Yew | 914 | 31 | MLA for DergaChairman of Democratic Action Party, Kedah |
| 55 | P. Ramasamy Palanisamy | 911 | 32 | Deputy Chief Minister II of PenangMLA for PeraiDeputy Chairman of Democratic Action Party, Penang |
| 80 | Tey Kok Kiew | 903 | 33 | |
| 53 | Ngeh Koo Ham | 882 | 34 | MP for BeruasAssistant National Treasurer of Democratic Action Party |
| 23 | Jannie Lasimbang | 877 | 35 | MLA for KapayanCentral Executive Committee Member of Democratic Action Party |
| 63 | Sivakumar Varatharaju Naidu | 858 | 36 | MP for Batu GajahDeputy Secretary-General of Democratic Action Party |
| 90 | Yeo Bee Yin | 857 | 37 | 11th Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister of MalaysiaMP for BakriAssistant National Publicity Secretary of Democratic Action Party |
| 30 | Lee Chin Chin | 853 | 38 | MLA for Bilut |
| 31 | Howard Lee Chuan How | 833 | 39 | MLA for Pasir Pinji |
| 12 | Chong Eng | 793 | 40 | Penang State Executive CouncillorMLA for Padang LalangCentral Executive Committee Member of Democratic Action Party |
| 20 | Ganabatirau Veraman | 758 | 41 | MLA for Kota Kemuning |
| 56 | Tony Pua Kiam Wee | 756 | 42 | MP for DamansaraNational Publicity Secretary of Democratic Action Party |
| 59 | Sanisvara Nethaji Rayer Rajaji | 725 | 43 | MP for Jelutong |
| 93 | Zairil Khir Johari | 662 | 44 | Penang State Executive CouncillorMLA for Tanjong BungaAssistant National Publicity Secretary of Democratic Action Party |
| 01 | Abdul Aziz Bari | 648 | 45 | MLA for Tebing Tinggi |
| 18 | Ean Yong Hian Wah | 607 | 46 | MLA for Seri KembanganDeputy Chairman of Democratic Action Party, Selangor |
| 15 | Chow Yu Hui | 566 | 47 | MLA for Tras |
| 87 | Wong May Ing | 546 | 48 | MLA for Pantai Remis |
| 75 | Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji | 542 | 49 | MP for RaubNational Vice-Chairman of Democratic Action Party |
| 54 | Ong Kian Ming | 535 | 50 | MP for BangiAssistant National Director of Political Education of Democratic Action Party |
| 36 | Lim Eng Guan | 526 | 51 | |
| 57 | Ramkarpal Singh Karpal Singh | 497 | 52 | MP for Bukit Gelugor |
| 25 | Kalidas Komarawelo | 431 | 53 | |
| 67 | Syahredzan Johan | 428 | 54 | |
| 28 | Kerk Chee Yee | 388 | 55 | MLA for Ayer Keroh |
| 64 | Sivanesan Achalingam | 382 | 56 | MLA for Sungkai |
| 13 | Chong Zhemin | 364 | 57 | MLA for Keranji |
| 71 | Nicole Tan Lee Koon | 352 | 58 | Negeri Sembilan State Executive CouncillorMLA for Bukit Kepayang |
| 09 | Charles Anthony Santiago | 336 | 59 | MP for Klang |
| 22 | Heng Lee Lee | 332 | 60 | MLA for Berapit |
| 81 | Tiew Way Keng | 322 | 61 | |
| 60 | Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali | 291 | 62 | |
| 45 | Mary Josephine Pritam Singh | 264 | 63 | MLA for Rahang |
| 51 | Ng Wei Aik | 262 | 64 | |
| 74 | Eric Teh Hoong Keat | 261 | 65 | |
| 73 | Tee Boon Hock | 231 | 66 | |
| 85 | Wan Hamidi Hamid | 226 | 67 | |
| 10 | Chew Chong Sin | 223 | 68 | MLA for Mengkibol |
| 26 | Kamache A. Doray Rajoo | 220 | 69 | MLA for Sabai |
| 32 | Leow Thye Yih | 208 | 70 | MLA for Pokok Assam |
| 16 | David Marshel Pakianathan | 176 | 71 | |
| 04 | Apalasamy Jataliah | 160 | 72 | |
| 44 | Manogaran Marimuthu | 130 | 73 | Deputy Chairman of Democratic Action Party, Pahang |
| 34 | Liew Ah Kim | 122 | 74 | |
| 17 | Diccam Lourdes Lourdhusamy | 117 | 75 | |
| 02 | Abdul Aziz Isa Marindo | 116 | 76 | |
| 84 | Veerapan Superamaniam | 113 | 77 | Negeri Sembilan State Executive CouncillorMLA for Repah |
| 48 | Mordi Bimol | 112 | 78 | MP for Mas Gading |
| 24 | Jason Raj Kirupanantha | 89 | 79 | |
| 33 | Lew Chee Kwan | 89 | 80 | |
| 78 | Teoh Boon Kok | 87 | 81 | |
| 62 | Sinasamy Subramaniam | 72 | 82 | |
| 72 | Eric Tan Pok Shyong | 71 | 83 | |
| 47 | Mohan Ramasamy | 68 | 84 | |
| 65 | Soh Mei Lin | 63 | 85 | |
| 58 | Ravi Apalasamy | 61 | 86 | |
| 82 | Utaya Kumar Suppaya | 60 | 87 | |
| 83 | Valluvan Alagan | 53 | 88 | |
| 46 | Mohammad Basar Umar | 36 | 89 | |
| 05 | | | 90 | |
| 06 | | | 91 | |
| 07 | | | 92 | |
| 39 | Lim Kit Siang | Withdrew | 93 | 8-term former and longest-serving Leader of the Opposition of MalaysiaMP for Iskandar Puteri11-term MP4-term former MLA1st Parliamentary Leader of Democratic Action Party2nd National Chairman of Democratic Action Party3rd Secretary-General of Democratic Action Party |

#### Leadership

Party leadership changes following 2022 congress :
| Position | Outgoing | Successor |
| National Chairman | Tan Kok Wai | Lim Guan Eng |
| National Deputy Chairman | Gobind Singh Deo | Gobind Singh Deo |
| National Vice-Chairmen | Chong Chieng JenChow Kon YeowKulasegaran MurugesonTengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji (co-opted)Stephen Wong Tien Fatt (co-opted) | Chong Chieng JenChow Kon YeowTeresa Kok Suh SimKulasegaran MurugesonNga Kor Ming |
| Secretary-General | Lim Guan Eng | Anthony Loke Siew Fook |
| Deputy Secretaries-General | Teresa Kok Suh SimNga Kor MingSivakumar Varatharaju Naidu | Liew Chin TongTengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji (co-opted)Sivakumar Varatharaju Naidu (co-opted) |
| National Treasurer Assistant Treasurer | Fong Kui Lun Ngeh Koo Ham | Fong Kui Lun Ng Sze Han |
| National Organising Secretary Assistant Secretaries | Anthony Loke Siew Fook Khoo Poay Tiong (co-opted)Thomas Su Keong Siong (co-opted) | Steven Sim Chee Keong Ng Suee LimKhoo Poay Tiong (co-opted) |
| National Publicity Secretary Assistant Secretaries | Tony Pua Kiam Wee Zairil Khir JohariYeo Bee Yin (co-opted) | Teo Nie Ching Hannah Yeoh Tseow SuanGanabatirau Veraman (co-opted) |
| International Secretary Assistant Secretary | Teo Nie Ching None | Jannie Lasimbang Kasthuriraani Patto |
| National Director of Political Education Assistant Director | Liew Chin Tong Ong Kian Ming (co-opted) | Wong Kah Woh Wong Shu Qi |
| Committee Members | Chong EngRonnie Liu Tian KhiewTeng Chang KhimJannie Lasimbang (co-opted)John Brian Anthony (co-opted)Wong Kah Woh (co-opted)Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan (co-opted) | Chan Foong HinAlice Lau Kiong YiengLim Hui YingLim Lip EngRonnie Liu Tian KhiewYoung Syefura OthmanThomas Su Keong SiongTan Hong PinTan Kok WaiTeo Kok SeongVincent Wu Him VenSyahredzan Johan (co-opted) |
| Parliamentary Leader | Lim Kit Siang | Nga Kor Ming |

## Notable speeches
### Tan Kok Wai

   DAP sentiasa memperingati perjuangan and pengorbanan pemimpin generasi terdahulu dan pada masa yang sama, terus memberikan ruang kepada generasi yang baru untuk memacu kemajuan parti untuk bergerak ke hadapan. Inilah punca utama kekuatan kita.
Tan Kok Wai, as incumbent national chairman of the DAP, delivered his speech first to open the congress as per Clause IX Section 3 of the party constitution.
Tan's speech was focused on both the importance of a mature political culture whilst championing women's rights and anti-corruption. He discussed how the party is empowering women and standing by one of its core principle of equal rights for all races. He touted the DAP's stance on not cooperating with the "perasuah, pengkhianat, penyangak, dan juga katak politik" (corrupt, traitors, rogues, and also "political frogs").
Tan also recounted the personal disappointment of the collapse of the elected government in the aftermath of the 2020 Malaysian political crisis in the hands of the "rejim yang korup" (corrupt regime) who have since shown a lack of capability in administering the nation.

### Lim Guan Eng

   Malaysia dimiliki oleh semua rakyat, tanpa kira umur, jantina, kaum, agama, dan latar belakang. Tidak kira dari Semenanjung Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, ataupun sama ada mereka berbangsa Melayu, Cina, India, Orang Asli, Kadazandusun Murut, ataupun Iban Dayak. Tidak sepatutnya berlaku diskrimasi ataupun peminggiran dalam aspek politik, sosial dan ekonomi. Semua rakyat Malaysia seharusnya dopat tempat bersama di bawah naungan negara Malaysia.
Lim Guan Eng, the fifth and outgoing secretary-general of the DAP, delivered his speech following the conclusion of Tan's speech.
Lim's speech was focused on secularism and equal rights for all citizens. He discussed how extremism and corruption even during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic had impacted the economy and led to "various threats". He touted the DAP's success, under his stewardship, in transforming Penang into a leading state in Malaysia within ten years and the regret that they were not accorded the same luxury to do the same for the country as a whole.
Lim also recounted the DAP's past resilience from when he first took office as party secretary-general in September 2004 in its dream to create a better country for all Malaysians in the face of multiple recent state election defeats.

### Lim Kit Siang

   为实现马来西亚萌的斗争，我们必须。。。，而这个事业就交给你们了。谢谢各位。
Lim Kit Siang, the senior member of the DAP, was given an opportunity to give a speech after his son, Guan Eng, announced the elder Lim's retirement from active politics after fifty-six years. In that span, Lim was party secretary-general for thirty years and subsequently became the longest-serving Malaysian Parliamentary Opposition Leader during part of his eleven terms as MP.
Lim's speech was focused on the party's struggle and mission. He urged the party members to continue fighting in line with the party's vision and hope for the country.

## Aftermath

Following Lim Kit Siang's decision to retire from active politics, he was given the figurehead position as party mentor whilst outgoing national chairman Tan Kok Wai was named advisor. Rais Yatim, 18th President of the Dewan Negara, remarked that the government should pay tribute to Lim having served over half a century in the nation's political arena.
After news broke that both Lim and Anwar Ibrahim, who was in attendance as People's Justice Party (PKR) president, tested positive for COVID-19, convicted former prime minister Najib Razak remarked on his personal Facebook page why Lim was not fined for hugging attendees. This triggered a response by health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, also on Facebook, that Lim has indeed been issued a RM1,000 compound but also questioned as to why Najib himself has yet to pay an outstanding four fines himself and that his officers has refused to accept them.
In the aftermath of the vote, Damansara MP and former corporate man Tony Pua Kiam Wee, who was a key figure in exposing the 1MDB scandal and also pro bono political secretary to Lim Guan Eng during his tenure as finance minister, expressed his surprise in not retaining a position in the CEC despite the number of positions being increased from twenty to thirty. Newly-minted secretary-general Loke seemingly reassured Pua the following day, calling the latter a "very important asset" to the party.
On 23 March 2022, Dr. Boo Cheng Hau, former chairman of the DAP's Johor chapter, called for Lim to step down as party chairman until all of Lim's corruption cases have been resolved in court. Chow Kon Yeow, DAP national vice-chairman and Lim's successor as Penang chief minister, responded on 26 March 2022 that the party will not make any changes to Lim's position until the court has delivered its verdict on the latter's outstanding cases.