2022 Democratic Action Party National Congress

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.{{cite web|accessdate=22 March 2022 |website=New Straits Times |date=19 March 2022 |title=DAP to elect Guan Eng's successor ahead of GE15 |publisher=Bernama |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2022/03/781357/dap-elect-guan-engs-successor-ahead-ge15}}{{cite web|accessdate=22 March 2022 |title=All eyes on DAP national congress as new sec-gen is expected to be selected |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/03/19/all-eyes-on-dap-national-congress-as-new-sec-gen-is-expected-to-be-selected |website=The Star (Malaysia) |date=19 March 2022 |first=Wani |last=Muthiah}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.iseas.edu.sg/articles-commentaries/iseas-perspective/2021-118-malaysias-democratic-action-party-dap-background-and-inner-workings-by-francis-e-hutchinson-and-kevin-zhang/ |accessdate=22 March 2022 |title=2021/118 "Malaysia's Democratic Action Party (DAP): Background and Inner Workings" by Francis E. Hutchinson and Kevin Zhang |first1=Francis E. |last1=Hutchinson |first2=Kevin |last2=Zhang |date=7 September 2021 |publisher=ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute}}

The congress was originally scheduled to be held 20 December 2020.{{cite web|accessdate=22 March 2022 |title=Report: Selangor DAP convention, national congress expected to be postponed due to MCO |date=17 May 2021 |website=The Star (Malaysia) |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/05/17/report-selangor-dap-convention-national-congress-expected-to-be-postponed-due-to-mco}}

On 21 January 2022, it was announced that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the congress would again be delayed to 20 March 2022.{{cite web|title=DAP National Congress set on March 20 - Loke |accessdate=22 March 2022 |date=21 January 2022 |website=The Sun (Malaysia) |publisher=Bernama |url=https://www.thesundaily.my/local/dap-national-congress-set-on-march-20-loke-HK8783485}} 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.

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).{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/01/21/dap-to-hold-national-congress-on-march-20-says-anthony-loke |website=The Star (Malaysia) |accessdate=22 March 2022 |title=DAP to hold national congress on March 20, says Anthony Loke |date=21 January 2022}}

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.{{cite web|website=Facebook |accessdate=23 March 2022 |title=Kongres Kebangsaan Parti Tindakan Demokratik Ke-17 |language=ms |url=https://www.facebook.com/DAPMalaysia/videos/623528482404214 |publisher=Democratic Action Party |date= 20 March 2022}}

The congress' returning officer was John Lau Tiang Hua.{{cite web|url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2022/03/20/gobind-chow-kon-yeow-and-anthony-loke-lead-top-spots-in-daps-new-cec-line-up-as-tony-pua-kian-ming-miss-the-cut/ |date=20 March 2022 |accessdate=21 March 2022 |title=Gobind, Chow Kon Yeow and Anthony Loke lead top spots in DAP's new CEC line-up as Tony Pua, Kian Ming miss the cut |website=The Borneo Post |publisher=Malay Mail}}

The table below reflects the delegate votes.Information of and votes received by candidates 05 through to 07 are missing due to a technical issue with the results video.{{cite web|website=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/DAPMalaysia/videos/456953306211607/ |accessdate=22 March 2022 |title=Keputusan pemilihan Jawatankuasa Tertinggi Pusat DAP |language=ms |date= 20 March 2022 |publisher=Democratic Action Party}} Voting results were audited and confirmed by Grant Thornton Malaysia PLT.{{cite web|url=https://www.astroawani.com/berita-politik/cec-dap-gobind-raih-undi-tertinggi-beberapa-nama-besar-tewas-352758 |language=ms |accessdate=22 March 2022 |date=20 March 2022 |title=CEC DAP: Gobind raih undi tertinggi, beberapa nama besar tewas |first=Harits Asyraf |last=Hasnan |website=Astro Awani}} A total of 93 candidates vied for 30 positions in the CEC.{{cite web|url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2022/03/20/daps-central-executive-committee-takes-place-with-93-candidates-vying-for-3/2048428 |website=Malay Mail |accessdate=22 March 2022 |title=DAP's Central Executive Committee takes place with 93 candidates vying for 30 seats |date=20 March 2022 |publisher=Bernama}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://dapmalaysia.org/en/about-us/party-constitution/ |accessdate=22 March 2022 |website=dapmalaysia.org |title=Party Constitution}}

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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.

| source = — Tan Kok Wai at the 2022 Democratic Action Party National Congress

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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.

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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.

| source = — Lim Guan Eng at the 2022 Democratic Action Party National Congress

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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.

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| quote = File:Lim Kit Siang cropped.jpg

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。

| source = — Lim Kit Siang at the 2022 Democratic Action Party National Congress

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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.{{cite web|url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2022/03/20/after-56-years-kit-siang-quits-politics/ |accessdate=22 March 2022 |title=After 56 years, Kit Siang quits politics |first=Jason |last=Thomas |website=Free Malaysia Today |date=20 March 2022}} 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.

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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.{{cite web|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/615407 |accessdate=23 March 2022 |date=22 March 2022 |title=Rais: Kit Siang deserves respect and recognition |website=Malaysiakini}}

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.{{cite web|title=Hugged Kit Siang? Don't come to Parliament, says Najib |website=Free Malaysia Today |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2022/03/21/hugged-kit-siang-dont-come-to-parliament-says-najib/ |accessdate=23 March 2022 |date=21 March 2022}} This triggered a response by health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, also on Facebook, that Lim has indeed been issued a {{MYR}}1,000 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2022/03/782130/sop-violation-compound-against-kit-siang-triggers-spat-between |website=New Straits Times |title=SOP violation compound against Kit Siang triggers spat between Khairy and Najib |first=Dhesegaan |last=Bala Krishnan |date=22 March 2022 |accessdate=23 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/615401 |accessdate=23 March 2022 |date=22 March 2022 |title=MOH: Najib's officer refused to accept 4 fines |website=Malaysiakini}}

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.{{cite web|title=Surprised, but no regrets, says Pua after losing CEC seat |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2022/03/21/surprised-but-no-regrets-says-pua-after-losing-cec-seat/ |accessdate=23 March 2022 |date=21 March 2022 |website=Free Malaysia Today}} Newly-minted secretary-general Loke seemingly reassured Pua the following day, calling the latter a "very important asset" to the party.{{cite web|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/615515 |accessdate=23 March 2022 |date=23 March 2022 |title=Loke deems Pua 'important asset' to DAP despite snub from delegates |website=Malaysiakini}}

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.{{cite web|accessdate=27 March 2022 |date=23 March 2022 |website=Malay Mail |title=Johor DAP's Dr Boo calls for Guan Eng to resign from party's national chairman's post |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2022/03/23/johor-daps-dr-boo-calls-for-guan-eng-to-resign-from-partys-national-chairma/2049070 |first=Ben |last=Tan}}{{cite web|accessdate=27 March 2022 |date=24 March 2022 |website=Free Malaysia Today |title=It's nothing personal, says Boo on call for Guan Eng to quit |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2022/03/24/its-nothing-personal-says-boo-on-call-for-guan-eng-to-quit/}} 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.{{cite web|accessdate=27 March 2022 |date=26 March 2022 |website=The Borneo Post |title=DAP to decide Guan Eng's fate in party only after court verdict, says veep |publisher=Malay Mail |url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2022/03/26/dap-to-decide-guan-engs-fate-in-party-only-after-court-verdict-says-veep/}}

• Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics

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Category:2022 conferences

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