Bilcher Bala of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), said the resignation of Frankie Poon and Liau Fui Fui marked a “highly significant turning point” for the party’s state chapter — especially given Poon’s former role as Sabah DAP chairman.
“Their departure, along with several party branches, signals not just a personnel loss but a structural weakening of DAP’s local machinery,” he told FMT.
Bilcher said the episode reflected a serious internal rift within Sabah DAP, citing the duo’s claim of a “hidden agenda” to replace senior members with younger figures.
The fallout was indicative of a deep-seated dissatisfaction rather than a routine reshuffle, he said, adding that DAP must strike a careful balance between its national push for generational change and Sabah’s unique political culture.
“DAP has long promoted youth leadership and generational renewal as part of its national strategy.
“However, in Sabah, where political loyalty and seniority carry cultural weight, the abrupt sidelining of veterans without transparent dialogue feels disrespectful to many local supporters.
“The perception of internal discord and disrespect towards senior leaders may alienate older voters and confuse younger ones,” he warned.
While the shift may be necessary, Bilcher said its execution came off as insensitive, lending credibility to Poon and Liau’s criticism.
He warned that the episode could damage DAP’s grassroots strength in Sandakan and eastern Sabah—areas that relied heavily on personal networks built over time.
“Losing two branches means loss of local mobilisers, volunteers, and voter outreach capacity,” he said, adding that Sandakan MP and current Sabah DAP secretary Vivian Wong would need time to rebuild the base.
Over the weekend, Sabah DAP chief Phoong Jin Zhe said the party respected Poon and Liau’s decision to leave, along with their respective branches.
He nonetheless denied that veterans were being sidelined in Sabah DAP, pointing to the presence of deputy chairman Chan Foong Hin and vice-chairman Jannie Lasimbang as among several senior members playing prominent roles in the chapter’s leadership.
Poon, who assumed the post of Sabah DAP chairman in November 2021, lost it to Phoong during internal elections last year. At 36, Phoong is the state chapter’s youngest ever leader.
Both Poon and Phoong were first elected as assemblymen for Tanjong Papat and Luyang, respectively, in the 2018 general election, and successfully defended their seats in the 2020 state polls.
Lee Kuok Tiung, also of UMS, believes Poon and Liau’s decision was driven by disappointment over DAP’s push to prioritise younger candidates in the upcoming state election.
With their departure and talk of other Sabah DAP veterans being sidelined, Lee expects an intense race for Chinese-majority seats in the next state election.
“The fight for the Chinese-majority seats will indeed be fierce in the upcoming state polls. Warisan is closely following as an alternative to DAP. Not to mention the rise of local party sentiment,” he said.
However, Lee predicted that most DAP voters would still rally behind the party despite the internal turbulence.
“Most DAP voters cast their votes based on the party logo. Whoever the candidate is, they won’t have much trouble winning as long as they have no blemish on their past record.”