DAP leaders gather for emergency CEC meeting over Najib’s conditional pardon

DAP national chairman Gobind Singh Deo arrives at DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur September 19, 2026. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

By Dhesegaan Bala Krishnan

First Published: Saturday, 19 Sep 2026 5:01 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 — DAP central executive committee (CEC) members gathered at the party’s national headquarters in Pudu this afternoon for an emergency meeting following the conditional pardon granted to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The meeting, which will determine the party’s official position and next steps following yesterday’s decision, began at 3.30pm.

DAP national chairman Gobind Singh Deo was among the earliest to arrive, at 2.40pm, followed by secretary-general Anthony Loke at around 3pm.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke arrives at DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur September 19, 2026. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

Other prominent party leaders attending the meeting include Teo Nie Ching, a national vice-chairman and DAP Women’s chief; national deputy chairman Nga Kor Ming; party adviser Lim Guan Eng; national treasurer Ngeh Koo Ham; and Hannah Yeoh.

Last night, Loke said the CEC would determine the party’s official response to the conditional pardon granted to Najib.

DAP national deputy chairman Nga Kor Ming arrives at DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur September 19, 2026. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

The Pardons Board announced yesterday that His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, had consented to allow Najib to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028, subject to the payment of a RM50 million fine.

The emergency meeting comes just over a month after DAP delegates voted at the party’s August 16 conference to remain in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government until the end of the current parliamentary term.

Hannah Yeoh arrives at DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur September 19, 2026. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

A total of 1,857 delegates, or about 88 per cent of those who cast valid votes, backed remaining in the government, while 242 voted to leave.

DAP has been a longstanding political ally of Anwar and was a key component of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition before becoming part of its successor, Pakatan Harapan.