PETALING JAYA ( WNAM MONITORING): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would retain his parliamentary majority if DAP’s five ministers and seven deputy ministers leave the government, but their departure would complicate Cabinet coordination and weaken political cohesion, analysts told theSun.
Universiti Malaya political analyst Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub said the government’s parliamentary strength would remain unchanged as long as all 40 DAP MPs continued supporting Anwar.
He said relinquishing government posts would amount to DAP withdrawing from the executive branch, rather than pulling its support in the Dewan Rakyat or leaving Pakatan Harapan (PH).
“The government will not collapse constitutionally if DAP continues supporting Anwar in confidence motions, budgets and key legislation.
“However, the political and administrative consequences cannot be considered minor. The departure of five ministers and seven deputy ministers would disrupt continuity in several ministries and require Cabinet responsibilities to be reorganised.”
Tawfik said the arrangement would put DAP in an awkward position as it would remain part of PH and support the administration in Parliament without sharing collective responsibility for government decisions.
He added that while the move could give the party greater freedom to criticise policies, it could also complicate coordination within PH and create the perception of an administration that is retaining the required numbers but losing cohesion.
He also said the proposed vote reflected growing grassroots pressure after successive state election setbacks, alongside unease over reform delays and corruptionrelated matters.
“The leadership wants a direct mandate from the delegates on whether DAP could still defend its participation in government or needs to distance itself to restore supporters’ confidence.”
The possibility arose after DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook resigned as Negeri Sembilan DAP chairman following the party’s state election performance and his defeat in Chennah.
After a central executive committee (CEC) meeting on Monday, Loke said a motion would be tabled at DAP’s national conference on Aug 16, with about 4,000 delegates casting secret ballots.
The outcome will determine whether the party remains in the federal government until the current parliamentary term ends. Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities director Assoc Prof Dr Mazlan Ali agreed that DAP’s Cabinet departure would not alter the government’s position in Parliament.
However, he said its absence would leave PKR and Amanah as the only PH components represented in the Cabinet, making the coalition appear less cohesive despite its continued legislative support.
Mazlan said Anwar could maintain administrative continuity by appointing replacements from among MPs or senators, although the Cabinet would lose several DAP ministers whom he regarded as strong performers.
“DAP’s withdrawal from the Cabinet would not pose a problem as long as it remained in the Dewan Rakyat and continued supporting PH.
“However, the sense of teamwork would no longer be there. The government would remain in place, but Anwar would lose his DAP colleagues in the Cabinet.”
Mazlan said the motion allowed DAP grassroots to chart the party’s next course following its recent electoral setbacks. “It is leaving the decision to the delegates on whether its leaders should withdraw from the government after failing to fulfil voters’ expectations.
