Catching the wind again after DAP’s loss in the Land Below the Wind

Catching the wind again after DAP’s loss in the Land Below the Wind

By Ben Fong Kok Seng
23 minutes ago




FOR DAP, the results of the Sabah election were difficult to swallow. Losing every seat the party contested in is not something we can gloss over, nor is it something we should treat lightly. In moments like this, the instinct is often to react quickly and dramatically.


Many in the party and outside have given their views on this setback, including from a former DAP MP whose charged and emphatic opinion has gone viral. But experience tells us that clarity comes not from panic, but from measured reflection.



The first thing we need to do is avoid overreacting. Elections are moments of feedback, not triggers for knee-jerk responses. In this regard, party secretary-general Anthony Loke’s prompt acceptance of responsibility reflects a steady hand. His response was calm and measured at a time when others spoke and acted on impulse.

Drastic shifts made in the heat of disappointment rarely produce sustainable results. DAP has gone through many trials in the past, and each time we have only emerged stronger. There is no reason why Sabah should be different.

It is also important to recognise that Sabah’s political landscape has always been distinct. This time it is made more challenging by elevated regional sentiments and complex alliances. Acknowledging this is not an attempt to make excuses.



It is simply a reminder that while the Sabah outcome carries lessons, it should not be used as a predictor to what lies ahead in Peninsular Malaysia or in the coming Sarawak polls. Those who suggest otherwise overlook the vastly different political contexts at play.

Still, we cannot comfort ourselves by believing the message is purely local. Voters everywhere expect parties to stay close to the ground, serve with humility, and deliver on the issues that affect daily life.

People want to know that we are listening, not lecturing. They want to see that the party remains anchored on real concerns such as cost of living pressures, public service delivery and governance standards.

The truth is the DAP has recently faced accusations of straying from its principles and tolerating undesirable elements within the Madani administration. Some say the party has drifted from the ideals that once defined it.

Whether these claims are fair or exaggerated, the perception matters and cannot be allowed to fester as we approach the next elections.

As we look ahead to GE16, the path forward requires steady recalibration, not impulsive decisions. The leadership needs room to chart the next steps, guided by feedback from the party grassroots—and more importantly, Malaysians at large.

The party must be seen to be returning to basics. To strengthen support in the coming polls, DAP needs to be perceived as deepening its focus on issues that have always resonated with the electorate such as livelihoods, the rising cost of living, accountability, transparency and efficient public services.

These fundamentals built the party’s reputation, and more can be done to show that they still guide our work today.

At the same time, our communication efforts need to be sharper and more responsive. Misinformation and online falsehoods travel faster than ever, and leaving them unanswered allows narratives to harden unchecked.

We also need to improve how we counter misleading claims and ensure that the work of party leaders is more visible to the public. Doing this well protects credibility and helps rebuild trust.

What happened in Sabah is a reminder. DAP’s strength has always been its ability to learn quickly, reorganise and stay connected to the aspirations of the people.

Sabah was a setback, not a systemic crisis. If we listen carefully, reflect honestly and act decisively, it can strengthen our path to the future rather than weaken it.

Now is the time for level-headedness, not hasty decisions. The lesson from Sabah is not that we have lost our way, but a reminder that the trust of the people must be earned every single day.

And if we are willing to put in that work, then this defeat will not be remembered as the moment the party stumbled, but as the moment it found its stride again. ‒ Dec 1, 2025



Ben Fong Kok Seng is the DAP Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur Treasurer.