Following the unveiling of the full cabinet list yesterday, it became apparent that certain quarters in DAP were far from pleased.

Malaysiakini understands that dissatisfaction towards Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's decision was raised during an internal retreat at a hotel in Subang Jaya over the weekend, prior to the swearing in of the second batch cabinet ministers on Monday.

Some 300 DAP parliamentarians, state assemblypersons, federal ministers, state excos and party cadres gathered to discuss the political scenario post GE14.

Sources told Malaysiakini that the criticism raised during the retreat was focused on Sabah, Sarawak and Perak DAP not being allocated the minister posts promised ahead of last month's general election.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, two of those who attended the retreat claimed that unlike past gatherings, morale was rather low.

It is learnt that representatives from Sabah were dissatisfied with the unequal distribution of minister positions between Parti Warisan Sabah and East Malaysian DAP chapters.

Read more: Two biggest parties under-represented in Dr M's cabinet

Sabah DAP won three parliament seats, but did not get a single minister post whereas Warisan, which won eight parliament seats, has three ministers and two deputy ministers.

On the other hand, Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen had to settle for a deputy minister post, despite party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng promising him full ministership during the campaign period.

'Little room in Dr M's heart for S'wak, Sabah Harapan'

“Sabah representatives complained of being marginalised. It appears that Mahathir wants to bolster Warisan at Sabah DAP's expense. How will Sabah DAP have the bargaining power to negotiate with (Warisan president and) Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal?” asked a source.

As for Sarawak, the source said there were also complaints about Mahathir's cordial ties with the Gabungan Parti Sarawak coalition of former BN parties, and the prime minister's perceived reluctance to act against Sarawak governor Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is accused of grand corruption.

“This has made the grassroots in Sarawak uncomfortable,” said the source, adding that questions are being raised as to how Sarawak DAP would position itself for the next state election due in 2021.

The source said DAP representatives are now finding it increasingly difficult to speak their mind after Pakatan Harapan won the federal government.

“We were anti-establishment, now we are part of the establishment. It is difficult to strike a balance between the big picture and dissent,” he added.

A representative from Sarawak, who declined to be named, questioned the reason for Chong being given a deputy minister post, despite being the state Harapan chief, whereas the deputy state chief Baru Bian from PKR was made a full minister.

Furthermore, he said Chong is a four-term MP while Baru is a first-term MP.

“Sarawak DAP hopes the central leadership will have more communication with the prime minister and urge him to give greater appreciation to Sarawak Harapan. We are kingmakers as well, we have 12 MPs. Our comrades in Sabah feel the same as well.

“It seems Mahathir has little room in his heart for both Sabah and Sarawak Harapan. We are worried that (Sabah and Sarawak) voters will see the current line-up of ministers as worse than BN,” he added.

Another source told Malaysiakini that Perak representatives had also questioned the decision to leave out state chief Nga Kor Ming from the cabinet line-up, but this was raised in a more softer tone compared to their East Malaysian counterparts.

“Some noted that Perak had a Chinese federal minister in the past (under BN), but not anymore. This was an indirect way of questioning Nga being left out,” he added.

It is understood that a Perak representative said Guan Eng had promised that several people would be made federal ministers, but this did not materialise.

Due to this, the representative said the grassroots are finding it difficult to explain to the voters.

Kit Siang: Who wants to quit Harapan?

Meanwhile, sources told Malaysiakini that DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, when wrapping up the retreat, questioned those present if they wished to quit Harapan.

“When Kit Siang took the stage, the first question he posted was 'anybody wants to quit Harapan?' Of course, everyone kept silent.

“Following this, Kit Siang added, 'We have fought 50 over years as opposition, now we are not even in power for 50 days, are you going to quit?'” said the sources,

Guan Eng, however, took a softer approach, telling those present that he understood their grouses towards Mahathir.

According to the source, the secretary-general, who is also finance minister, said the party's highest decision-making body – central executive committee (CEC) – would meet and reach a decision on the current developments.

When contacted, Kit Siang refused to comment on what transpired during the retreat.