DAP national chairperson Lim Guan Eng reaffirmed the party’s strong support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim while making it clear that DAP will never be a “yes-man” party.
Speaking at the 18th National DAP Congress in Shah Alam, Lim led 3,204 delegates and party leaders in giving Anwar a standing ovation—his first time attending the congress as prime minister.
“DAP has been your staunchest ally, as demonstrated by successive secretaries-general from Lim Kit Siang to Anthony Loke. We are proud to have played a role in helping you become prime minister and will continue to do so,” he said.
However, Lim stressed, “DAP is not a ‘yes-man’ party. We are only a ‘yes-man’ to our voters and the people of Malaysia.”
While commending the political and institutional reforms introduced during the government’s 28 months in power, Lim, a former finance minister, called for faster economic reforms to secure Malaysia’s future.
He highlighted concerns over former US president Donald Trump’s proposed tariff policies, warning of potential impacts on Malaysia’s exports.
“We hope additional financial assistance will be provided to businesses affected by these tariffs and that certain financial policies imposing extra burdens will be postponed or delayed,” he said.
Lim also acknowledged senior DAP leaders—Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department M Kulasegaran—who opted out of the party’s central executive committee (CEC) contest this year.
Amid speculation over his future as DAP chairperson and his role in the CEC, Lim reaffirmed that only the secretary-general can set the party’s direction.