# 2025 Democratic Action Party National Congress

The 2025 Democratic Action Party National Congress, or the 18th Democratic Action Party National Congress, was a Malaysian political event that was held in IDCC Ideal Convention Centre, Shah Alam, Selangor on 16 March 2025. The event elected the Central Executive Committee (CEC), the highest decision-making body of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, for the next 3-year term, from 2025 to 2028. During the congress, the delegates voted for candidates for the CEC. The 30 candidates who won the most votes, with at least 9 women, were elected to the CEC.

## Background

The congress is the 18th in the history of the party. It is the first since the party became part of the federal government, as a component party of the PH coalition, which formed a coalition government with the Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators of Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Heritage Party (WARISAN) with the support, confidence and supply of the Social Democratic Harmony Party (KDM), Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) and independent MPs as a result of a hung parliament elected in the 2022 general election. The government led by Chairman of PH Anwar Ibrahim as Prime Minister was named the 'Unity Government', named after the large number of coaltions and parties forming the government despite technically not being a unity government, a type of government where there is no opposition in Parliament, however, Perikatan Nasional (PN) and the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) are the opposition coalition and party in Parliament, and 'Madani Government', named after the government slogan 'Malaysia Madani'. The previous 17 congresses were held when the party was in the opposition, with the 17th and most recent one on 20 March 2022. Although this is the second time the party became a part of the government, the party did not hold a congress during its brief first term in government, from the 10 May 2018 to 24 February 2020, the time between the 16th on 12 November 2017 and 17th congress. The congress was to elect the CEC for the 3-year term from 2025 to 2028, approve the amendments to the party constitution, among others.

## Congress leadership and attendance
### 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.

## Selection of delegates

The Constitution of DAP states that each party branch of at least 25 members has to send 2 delegates, usually the chairman and vice chairman, to the congress to vote in the CEC election. An additional delegate, usually the secretary, 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. A branch usually sent 2 to 3 delegates. All elected representatives, the MPs and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of the party, alongside other incumbent CEC members are also entitled to attend the congress as delegates. The party had 40 MPs and 90 MLAs at the time of the congress. According to Khoo Poay Tiong, the incumbent Assistant National Organising Secretary, the number of delegates was 4,203, the highest in the history of the party congress. The delegates were from 1,650 party branches nationwide, with an average number of 2.55 delegates per branch.

## Nominating and voting

Each party branch nominated 30 candidates for the CEC, and each candidates must receive at least 2 branch nominations to qualify for the election. 107 party members qualified. The party notified the candidates, and they were given 14 days to decide whether to accept the nomination, the candidates who accepted were still allowed to withdraw from the election. The votes received by the withdrawn candidates were invalid. The nominations closed on 31 January 2025 and the deadline on accepting the nominations was on 14 February 2025. After that, the party headquarters verified the list of candidates. The full list of candidates for the election was then announced by Sim on 3 March 2025. 70 candidates accepted. 6 later withdrew from the election, they were Edmund Teoh Kheng Yaik on 14 March 2025 as well as Kalidas Komarawelo, Kaliyappan P Renganathan, Nicole Tan Lee Koon, Phee Syn Tze and Soon Lip Chee on 15 March 2025. 64 others remained in the election. According to Khoo, the party appointed a private international audit firm to handle the vote counting and ballot opening process to ensure the transparency and fairness of the election. Due to the large number of delegates and the limited venue capacity, only the delegates were allowed to enter the hall during the congress. The party headquarters also named a 300-member special task force to maintain order at the venue. Clause VIII Section 14 allows each delegate to vote for 30 members to elect the CEC for the upcoming term of 3 years.

## Results
### 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. 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.
* Elected
* Co-opted
* Defeated
* Withdrawn
| No. | Name | Gender | Number of votes | Rank | Position | CEC position before the election | CEC position after the election |
| 18 | Gobind Singh Deo | Male | 2,785 | 1 | Minister of DigitalMP for Damansara | National Deputy Chairman | National Chairman |
| 11 | Chong Chieng Jen | Male | 2,631 | 2 | Chairman of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)State Leader of the Opposition of SarawakMP for StampinMLA for PadunganVice President of Pakatan HarapanState Chairman of DAP of Sarawak | National Vice Chairman | National Vice Chairman |
| 59 | Teo Nie Ching | Female | 2,585 | 3 | Deputy Minister of CommunicationsMP for KulaiWomen Chief of DAPState Chairperson of DAP of Johor | National Publicity Secretary | National Vice Chairman |
| 35 | Ng Suee Lim | Male | 2,563 | 4 | Selangor State EXCO MemberMLA for SekinchanState Vice Chairman of DAP of Selangor | Assistant National Organising Secretary | National Vice Chairman |
| 33 | Anthony Loke Siew Fook | Male | 2,508 | 5 | Minister of TransportMP for SerembanMLA for ChennahDeputy President of Pakatan HarapanChief Whip of Pakatan HarapanState Chairman of DAP of Negeri Sembilan | Secretary-General | Secretary-General |
| 67 | Yeo Bee Yin | Female | 2,503 | 6 | MP for PuchongDeputy Women Chief of DAPState Secretary of DAP of Selangor | – | National Publicity Secretary |
| 36 | Ng Sze Han | Male | 2,437 | 7 | Selangor State EXCO MemberMLA for KinraraState Chairman of DAP of Selangor | Assistant National Treasurer | Assistant National Treasurer |
| 23 | Khoo Poay Tiong | Male | 2,390 | 8 | Chairman of the Secretariat of the Malaysian Chinese New Village DivisionMP for Kota MelakaState Chairman of DAP of Melaka | Assistant National Organising Secretary | National Organising Secretary |
| 8 | Chan Foong Hin | Male | 2,362 | 9 | Deputy Minister of Plantation and CommoditiesMP for Kota KinabaluState Deputy Chairman of DAP of Sabah | Committee Member | National Policy Director |
| 64 | Wong Kah Woh | Male | 2,265 | 10 | Deputy Minister of EducationMP for TaipingState Secretary of DAP of Perak | National Political Education Director | National Election Director |
| 48 | Steven Sim Chee Keong | Male | 2,262 | 11 | Minister of Human ResourcesMP for Bukit MertajamState Chairman of DAP of Penang | National Organising Secretary | Deputy Secretary-General |
| 63 | Vivian Wong Shir Yee | Female | 2,244 | 12 | MP for SandakanState Secretary of DAP of Sabah | Committee Member | Assistant National Political Education Director |
| 38 | Nga Kor Ming | Male | 2,215 | 13 | Minister of Housing and Local GovernmentMP for Teluk IntanMLA for KepayangParliamentary Leader of DAPState Chairman of DAP of Perak | National Vice Chairman | National Deputy Chairman |
| 24 | Lee Chin Chen | Male | 2,172 | 14 | Pahang State Deputy SpeakerMLA for BilutState Chairman of DAP of Pahang | Committee Member | Assistant National Organising Secretary |
| 69 | Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan | Female | 2,169 | 15 | Minister of Youth and SportsMP for SegambutWomen Committee Member of DAPVice Chairperson of DAP of Kuala Lumpur | Assistant National Publicity Secretary | Deputy Secretary-General |
| 1 | Alice Lau Kiong Yieng | Female | 2,156 | 16 | Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat IIMP for LanangWomen Treasurer of DAPState Deputy Chairperson of DAP of Sarawak | Committee Member | Assistant International Secretary |
| 32 | Liow Cai Tung | Female | 2,139 | 17 | MLA for Johor JayaWomen Organising Secretary of DAPState Organising Secretary of DAP of Johor | – | Committee Member |
| 58 | Teo Kok Seong | Male | 2,107 | 18 | Negeri Sembilan State EXCO MemberMLA for BahauState Vice Chairman of DAP of Negeri Sembilan | Committee Member | Committee Member |
| 12 | Chow Kon Yeow | Male | 2,101 | 19 | Chief Minister of PenangMP for Batu KawanMLA for Padang Kota | National Vice Chairman | Committee Member |
| 54 | Syahredzan Johan | Male | 2,065 | 20 | MP for BangiState Political Education Director of DAP of Selangor | Committee Member | National Vice Chairman |
| 70 | Young Syefura Othman | Female | 1,943 | 21 | MP for BentongVice Women Chief of DAPState Vice Chairperson of DAP of Pahang | Committee Member | Assistant National Publicity Secretary |
| 27 | Liew Chin Tong | Male | 1,929 | 22 | Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and IndustryMP for Iskandar PuteriMLA for PerlingState Committee Member of DAP of Johor | Deputy Secretary-General | National Strategic Director |
| 44 | Ramkarpal Singh | Male | 1,917 | 23 | MP for Bukit GelugorState Deputy Chairman of DAP of Penang | – | Deputy Secretary-General |
| 5 | Arul Kumar Jambunathan | Male | 1,747 | 24 | Negeri Sembilan State EXCO MemberMLA for NilaiState Vice Chairman of DAP of Negeri Sembilan | – | National Vice Chairman |
| 21 | Kasthuriraani Patto | Female | 1,722 | 25 | Vice Women Chief of DAP | Assistant International Secretary | International Secretary |
| 29 | Lim Guan Eng | Male | 1,719 | 26 | MP for BaganMLA for Air Putih | National Chairman | Advisor |
| 25 | Howard Lee Chuan How | Male | 1,703 | 27 | MP for Ipoh TimorState Treasurer of DAP of Perak | Committee Member | National Political Education Director |
| 65 | Wong Shu Qi | Female | 1,655 | 28 | Chairperson of the Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp)MP for KluangState Deputy Chairperson of DAP of Johor | Assistant National Political Education Director | Assistant National Publicity Secretary |
| 55 | Tan Hong Pin | Male | 1,585 | 29 | MP for Bakri | Committee Member | Assistant National Organising Secretary |
| 39 | Ngeh Koo Ham | Male | 1,584 | 30 | MP for BeruasState Advisor of DAP of Perak | – | National Treasurer |
| 30 | Lim Hui Ying | Female | 1,573 | 31 | Deputy Minister of FinanceMP for TanjongState Secretary of DAP of Penang | Committee Member | – |
| 50 | Sivakumar Varatharaju | Male | 1,542 | 32 | MP for Batu GajahState Deputy Chairman of DAP of Perak | Deputy Secretary-General | – |
| 22 | Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen | Male | 1,419 | 33 | Political Secretary to the Minister of Human ResourcesMP for Bandar KuchingYouth Chief of Pakatan HarapanState Publicity Secretary of DAP of Sarawak | – | – |
| 60 | Teresa Kok Suh Sim | Female | 1,331 | 34 | Deputy Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)MP for SeputehVice Chairperson of DAP of Kuala Lumpur | National Vice Chairperson | – |
| 46 | Sanisvara Nethaji Rayer Rajaji Rayer | Male | 1,311 | 35 | MP for JelutongState Committee Member of DAP of Penang | Committee Member | – |
| 31 | Lim Lip Eng | Male | 1,300 | 36 | MP for KepongSecretary of DAP of Kuala Lumpur | Committee Member | – |
| 13 | Chow Yu Hui | Male | 1,261 | 37 | MP for RaubState Political Education Director of DAP of Pahang | – | – |
| 17 | Ganabatirau Veraman | Male | 1,254 | 38 | MP for KlangState Deputy Chairman of DAP of Selangor | Assistant National Publicity Secretary | – |
| 61 | Tiew Way Keng | Female | 1,196 | 39 | SenatorState Organising Secretary of DAP of Selangor | – | – |
| 26 | Leng Chau Yen | Female | 1,127 | 40 | Melaka State Deputy EXCO MemberMLA for Bandar HilirState Vice Chairperson of DAP of Melaka | – | – |
| 14 | Ean Yong Hian Wah | Male | 1,031 | 41 | Chairman of the Port Klang Authority (PKA)Executive Chairman of the Orgabio Holdings BerhadState Vice Chairman of DAP of Selangor | – | – |
| 66 | Vincent Wu Him Ven | Male | 1,026 | 42 | – | Committee Member | – |
| 68 | Yeoh Soon Hin | Male | 1,014 | 43 | Chairman of the Penang Port Commission (PPC)Deputy Chairman of Tourism MalaysiaState Vice Chairman of DAP of Penang | – | – |
| 16 | Ben Fong Kok Seng | Male | 970 | 44 | Treasurer of DAP of Kuala Lumpur | – | – |
| 10 | Chew Chong Sin | Male | 953 | 45 | MLA for MengkibolState Assistant Treasurer of DAP of Johor | – | – |
| 56 | Tan Kok Yew | Male | 857 | 46 | State Chairman of DAP of Kedah | – | – |
| 28 | Lim Eng Guan | Male | 756 | 47 | – | – | – |
| 52 | Thomas Su Keong Siong | Male | 755 | 48 | MLA for KetariState Organising Secretary of DAP of Pahang | Committee Member | – |
| 57 | Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji | Male | 694 | 49 | MLA for TrasState Committee Member of DAP of Pahang | Deputy Secretary-General | – |
| 7 | Boo Cheng Hau | Male | 654 | 50 | – | – | – |
| 43 | Rajiv Rishyakaran | Male | 494 | 51 | MLA for Bukit GasingState Assistant Treasurer of DAP of Selangor | – | – |
| 47 | Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali | Male | 478 | 52 | Chairman of the Malaysia Pineapple Industry Board (MPIB)State Vice Chairman of DAP of Johor | Committee Member | – |
| 37 | Ng Yak Howe | Male | 443 | 53 | MLA for BentayanState Committee Member of DAP of Johor | – | – |
| 34 | Mordi Bimol | Male | 299 | 54 | MP for Mas GadingState Vice Chairman of DAP of Sarawak | – | |
| 62 | Veerapan Superamaniam | Male | 296 | 55 | Negeri Sembilan State EXCO MemberMLA for Repah | – | – |
| 3 | Apalasamy Jataliah | Male | 280 | 56 | – | – | – |
| 42 | Pooi Weng Keong | Male | 268 | 57 | – | – | – |
| 45 | Ravi Apalasamy | Male | 198 | 58 | – | – | – |
| 6 | Azaha Abdul Rani | Male | 191 | 59 | – | – | – |
| 49 | Sinasamy Subramaniam | Male | 178 | 60 | – | – | – |
| 53 | Supian Zaharin | Male | 170 | 61 | – | – | – |
| 2 | Ananda Rao Apparalam | Male | 156 | 62 | – | – | – |
| 4 | Arivom Namasivaya K Kannan | Male | 138 | 63 | – | – | – |
| 9 | Chang Choon Bak | Male | 109 | 64 | – | – | – |
| 15 | Edmund Teoh Kheng Yaik | Male | N/A | N/A | Publicity Secretary of DAP of Kuala Lumpur | – | – |
| 19 | Kalidas Komarawelo | Male | N/A | N/A | – | – | – |
| 20 | Kaliyappan P Renganathan | Male | N/A | N/A | – | – | – |
| 40 | Nicole Tan Lee Koon | Female | N/A | N/A | Negeri Sembilan State EXCO MemberMLA for Bukit KepayangWomen Assistant Secretary of DAPState Committee Member of DAP of Negeri Sembilan | – | – |
| 41 | Phee Syn Tze | Female | N/A | N/A | MLA for Sungai PuyuState Committee Member of DAP of Penang | – | – |
| 51 | Soon Lip Chee | Male | N/A | N/A | State Assistant Publicity Secretary of DAP of Penang | – | – |

### Outgoing CEC members

The following CEC members did not contest in the election for re-election.
| No. | Name | Gender | Position | CEC position | Date confirmed | Reason |
| 1 | Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew | Male | – | Committee Member | 24 June 2023 | Left the party |
| 2 | Tan Kok Wai | Male | MP for CherasChairman of DAP of Kuala Lumpur | Advisor | 19 February 2025 | Retired |
| 3 | Fong Kui Lun | Male | MP for Bukit BintangDeputy Chairman of DAP of Kuala Lumpur | National Treasurer | 19 February 2025 | Retired |
| 4 | Kulasegaran Murugeson | Male | Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reforms)MP for Ipoh BaratVice President of Pakatan Harapan | National Vice Chairman | 21 February 2025 | Retired |
| 5 | Jannie Lasimbang | Female | Chairperson of the Rural Development Corporation (KPD) of SabahMLA for KapayanState Vice Chairperson of DAP of Sabah | International Secretary | 3 March 2025 | Not contesting for re-election |

### CEC leadership changes

Party leadership changes following the 2025 CEC election :
| Position | Holder before | Holder after |
| Advisor | Tan Kok Wai | Lim Guan Eng |
| National Chairman | Lim Guan Eng | Gobind Singh Deo |
| National Deputy Chairman | Gobind Singh Deo | Nga Kor Ming |
| National Vice Chairperson | Chong Chieng JenChow Kon YeowKulasegaran MurugesonNga Kor MingTeresa Kok Suh Sim | Arul Kumar JambunathanChong Chieng JenNg Suee LimSyahredzan JohanTeo Nie Ching |
| Secretary-General | Anthony Loke Siew Fook | Anthony Loke Siew Fook |
| Deputy Secretary-General | Liew Chin TongSivakumar VaratharajuTengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji | Hannah Yeoh Tseow SuanRamkarpal SinghSteven Sim Chee Keong |
| National Treasurer | Fong Kui Lun | Ngeh Koo Ham |
| Assistant National Treasurer | Ng Sze Han | Ng Sze Han |
| National Organising Secretary | Steven Sim Chee Keong | Khoo Poay Tiong |
| Assistant National Organising Secretary | Khoo Poay TiongNg Suee Lim | Lee Chin ChenTan Hong Pin |
| National Publicity Secretary | Teo Nie Ching | Yeo Bee Yin |
| Assistant National Publicity Secretary | Ganabatirau VeramanHannah Yeoh Tseow Suan | Wong Shu QiYoung Syefura Othman |
| International Secretary | Jannie Lasimbang | Kasthuriraani Patto |
| Assistant International Secretary | Kasthuriraani Patto | Alice Lau Kiong Yieng |
| National Political Education Director | Wong Kah Woh | Howard Lee Chuan How |
| Assistant National Political Education Director | Wong Shu Qi | Vivian Wong Shir Yee |
| National Strategic Director | Position established | Liew Chin Tong |
| National Policy Director | Position established | Chan Foong Hin |
| National Election Director | Position established | Wong Kah Woh |
| Parliamentary Leader | Nga Kor Ming | TBA |
| Committee Member | Alice Lau Kiong YiengChan Foong HinHoward Lee Chuan HowLee Chin ChenLim Hui YingLim Lip EngSanisvara Nethaji Rayer Rajaji RayerSheikh Umar Bagharib AliSyahredzan JohanTan Hong PinTeo Kok SeongThomas Su Keong SiongVincent Wu Him VenVivian Wong Shir YeeYoung Syefura Othman | Chow Kon YeowLiow Cai TungTeo Kok Seong |

## Controversies and issues
### 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. 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. 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.