KUALA LUMPUR – Only about half of DAP’s delegates attended the party’s National Conference 2026 today, with 2,221 representatives present out of the total 4,620 delegates nationwide.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the turnout should not be viewed as a sign of dissatisfaction or protest, noting that the party’s delegates were grassroots representatives who often had professional and business commitments.
He said attendance at DAP conferences without party elections was usually around 70%, while election years typically saw turnout ranging between 70% and 80%.
“Not all of our delegates can make it. Even if there is a party election, usually only about 70% attend.
“More than half of the delegates is actually considered very high for a DAP national conference, especially when there is no party election,” he said in response to a reporter’s question during a press conference at the conference today.
Loke explained that DAP delegates were not primarily made up of corporate figures or senior business leaders, but members elected from branches across the country.
“Our delegates are directly from the branches at the grassroots level. Some of them may be hawkers or small business operators who need to work and run their businesses,” he said.
He added that incomplete attendance was common at party conferences due to the backgrounds and responsibilities of grassroots representatives.
“It will never reach 100%,” he said.
The conference also saw delegates voting overwhelmingly in favour of DAP remaining in the unity government until the end of the current parliamentary term, with 1,857 votes, or 88.2%, supporting the motion. – August 16, 2026