On 28 March 2021, its supreme council endorsed its application to join the ruling Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition.

However, on 2 October 2021, PN Chairman and former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin rejected application of the party.

[3] On 5 April 2023, the party has officially been admitted into Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) after its membership application had been accepted by the coalition.

Chong eventually emerged as the winner and Kong left the LDP, quitting his ministerial post from the Sabah cabinet.

Despite this, LDP lost the Sandakan parliamentary seat to an independent candidate who had the backing of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).

On 13 April 2007, Chong Kah Kiat resigned from the State Cabinet due to his differences with the Chief Minister Musa Aman over the State Government's stoppage order for the construction of a Mazu statue which was undertaken by the Kudat Thean Hou Charitable Foundation in Kudat.

Secretary general Teo Chee Kang won the Tanjong Kapor seat which was previously held by Chong Kah Kiat.

New LDP President Liew Vui Keong also won the Sandakan Parliamentary seat and was subsequently appointed Deputy Minister of Trade and Industries.

After the SAPP announced it would quit BN on 17 September 2008, its quota of Sabah's Deputy Chief Minister was handed over to LDP.

[7] In spite of that, first term assemblyman Peter Pang was appointed to the post by the Chief Minister Musa.