KUALA LUMPUR – DAP has acknowledged that it must continue working alongside Umno in the unity government despite differences between the two parties, including concerns raised by delegates at its national conference.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s decision to keep all coalition partners within the government was driven by the need to preserve political stability.
He said Anwar had consulted the Pakatan Harapan leadership before making the decision, taking into account the importance of a stable administration to ensure the government’s policies and reform agenda could be carried out.
“There are differences between the parties in the unity government in the current Madani Government, but we have to keep the government stable to ensure that whatever that we are talking about, whatever that we have been pushing for, can be implemented,” he said during a press conference at DAP’s National Conference today.
Loke said DAP was not interested in creating further uncertainty within the administration despite disagreements among parties forming the unity government.
“We do not wish to create another instability within the government,” he said.
He added that delegates understood the political realities surrounding DAP’s cooperation with Umno, which was one of the reasons the issue was brought before members for a vote at the national conference.
“As I said, the delegates have voted for us to remain in government. This is the wishes of the delegates, knowing well that we have to work with Umno.
“This is a political reality that all delegates understood. That’s why we brought it to the national conference,” he said.
The motion for DAP to remain in the unity government until the end of the current parliamentary term received overwhelming support, with 1,857 delegates, or 88.2 per cent, voting in favour.
Earlier, Anwar reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining strong ties with Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno, stressing that political stability and economic progress should take priority over partisan interests.
The PKR president said the unity government was established through collective understanding and political maturity, with the shared aim of rebuilding the country’s economy rather than being driven by anger or emotional responses.
Anwar also maintained that his working relationships with key coalition leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, remained strong. – August 16, 2026