The 13th DAP National Conference, 2012, is currently taking place at the Bangunan Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (SSAAS), Shah Alam.
The turnout of delegates, party members, observers and the media has been very encouraging. The latest figures on those in attendance at the conference are: delegates – 749; observers/ party members – 349 and about 100 media representatives.
The conference began with singing of the National Anthem and Party song. Selangor State Chief Minister YB Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and PKR Vice President YB Mohamed Azmin Ali was present at the opening of the conference.
The speeches began with a welcome address by DAP National Chairman Sdr. Karpal Singh and thereafter party Secretary-General Sdr. Lim Guan Eng delivered a policy speech.
In his welcome address, Sdr. Karpal Singh called on all party members – especially the firebrands in the party – to band together in the fight against the Barisan Nasional. He urged new and young members and leaders in the party to pool their energies with the experience, contributions and sacrifices of the veterans in the party, especially now with the collective force of the Pakatan Rakyat, to stand against the BN.
Meanwhile, Sdr. Lim Guan Eng spoke about the exciting and crucial upcoming General Election where for the first time in Malaysia’s history, there will be a semblance of a two-party system contesting the elections with DAP, PKR and PAS geared to participate as the Pakatan Rakyat coalition. He said that DAP and the Pakatan Rakyat have, over the past four years, “fulfilled the people’s expectations of being an agent of change, moderation and hope” and through our governance in states which we control, we have made them “cleaner, greener and safer and shall make Malaysia cleaner, greener and safer.”
Sdr Lim added, “We must fulfil the aspirations of Malaysians, especially the young, for change from a broken system of corruption and repressive laws that violates basic human rights.
Click here for the full speech: Sdr Lim Guan Eng speech DAP conference and the DAP conference declaration / Deklarasi Shah Alam (Malay version).
Following the speeches, party delegates – who came from the width and breath of Malaysia (including from Sabah and Sarawak) – had the opportunity to express their thoughts, concerns and hopes for the party, policies and practices, and the upcoming elections. Here are photos of some of these delegates:
- At the sidelines of the conference, I was able to spend some time meeting the delegates, and party members, in person. These gentlemen came all the way from Gemas (a small town on the border of Johor-Negeri Sembilan).
