Postscript Monday
Afterthoughts on yesterday’s DAP polls and a clarification.
The startup-focused newsletter I wanted to push out last week is now scheduled for tomorrow morning — perfect timing for a public holiday. That’s your AM read sorted.
Today’s issue is a short one. More of a postscript. But before I dive into the main topic, a quick clarification: Saturday’s piece mistakenly labelled the RM2 billion government guarantee to Boustead Plantations as a bailout. I’ve corrected and updated the article accordingly.
I’ve also expanded the analysis on Sapura’s business units by adding details on its assets in the final section of the newsletter.
Yesterday was the DAP national congress, and one person I was watching closely was Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo.
He not only survived but thrived, securing the highest number of votes—repeating his 2022 feat. This was despite failing to gain enough support to lead the Selangor chapter.
Gobind is now the party’s national chairman, succeeding Lim Guan Eng, who moves into an advisory role.
Anthony Loke, also the transport minister, remains DAP secretary-general and the most influential or powerful person in the party.
There’ll be plenty of analysis and opinion pieces in the coming days, but the key takeaway for me is this: the DAP has signalled its intent to stay in government for the long haul.
Everything points in that direction — the move away from the Lim dynasty, the easing of restrictions on elected representatives receiving awards from sultans or governors, the appointment of two Malay leaders to the central executive committee, and increased representation from East Malaysia.
But the most significant shift is generational. Younger DAP leaders and members see Umno as a problem child — troublesome but still an ally. They do not view it as the all-powerful ruling party that once wielded state machinery to jail DAP leaders. They may know of that era, but it’s not part of their lived experience.