KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 — The Democratic Action Party (DAP) has acknowledged its disappointing performance in the Johor state election, pledging to learn from the outcome while shifting its full attention to the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state election.
In a statement issued by its Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Tuesday, DAP thanked Johor voters for participating in the democratic process, which recorded a voter turnout of 69.6 per cent. The party also expressed appreciation to all Pakatan Harapan (PH) supporters, particularly the 291,273 Johoreans who cast their votes for DAP candidates.
The party said every vote represented trust, hope and responsibility, adding that it would carry those lessons into the next electoral battle in Negeri Sembilan.
DAP confirmed that Pakatan Harapan will contest all 36 seats in the Negeri Sembilan state election, with DAP defending 11 constituencies. The party will field eight incumbent assemblymen alongside three new faces as part of its campaign to retain the state government.
According to the statement, DAP’s campaign in Negeri Sembilan will focus on promoting the state government’s achievements, future development plans, practical solutions to issues affecting the people and candidates capable of serving the public effectively. The party said it wanted voters to make their decision based on performance, policies and the state’s future rather than divisive politics.
Reflecting on the Johor election, DAP admitted the outcome fell short of its expectations after winning only six of the 10 seats it previously held. The party acknowledged that its support was not broad or balanced enough to retain four key constituencies and accepted responsibility for understanding and addressing the reasons behind the losses.
Despite the reduction in seats, DAP pointed out that its candidates secured a total of 226,592 votes across the 10 constituencies it contested, compared with 159,769 votes in the 2022 election. The party said the increase in total votes demonstrated that it continued to enjoy a strong support base, although it acknowledged that this did not offset the loss of seats.
DAP also announced that Stulang assemblyman Andrew Chen Kah Eng, who begins his fourth term as an elected representative, has been appointed by the CEC as the party’s new Chief Whip.
The party said it had identified several policy, political, organisational and communication issues requiring further attention following its post-election review.
“A political party does not judge itself. The people judge it,” the statement said, adding that DAP would strengthen its grassroots services, improve its communication and governance, and work harder to regain public confidence.
The party concluded that it accepted the message delivered by Johor voters with humility and determination, saying it would apply the lessons learned as it campaigns for a fresh mandate in Negeri Sembilan while continuing to advocate for stable, moderate and inclusive governance.
— MINUTESMY
