THE DAP congress has now concluded and, apart from a few Covid infections and surprise upsets in the central executive committee (CEC) elections, the long-anticipated transition happened at last.

For most intents and purposes, it is a good team.  

New secretary-general Anthony Loke brings with him a good balance of experience, from his time as a firebrand youth leader, to a balanced opposition figure, to a federal minister, managing to steer clear of scandals and the many labels that often attach themselves to politicians of his level and experience: cronyism, nepotism, racism and extremism.

Like other socialist/labour party structures, the power resides with this post. 

He is also quite popular with civil servants and relatively well-liked among Malay voters, perhaps partly due to his strong command of Bahasa Malaysia and positive rapport with his Muslim colleagues over the years. 

Loke has good support from above. Lim Guan Eng and Gobind Singh Deo both carry with them influence from the two common but instantly recognisable surnames in the party.  

Loke also has a strong team backing him, balanced with experience from various camps.

He is known to have an eye for talent – his team during his 22-month stint as minister was one of the most productive despite the odds, and helped burnish his credentials as one of most popular ministers at the time.

A name to watch would be his replacement Steven Sim as national organising secretary, a strategic post that may not mean much to outsiders, but is internally believed to be a catapult to bigger things.

Sim has worked quietly but diligently, earning the trust of both grassroots leaders and party leadership, avoiding controversy, and winning over minds and hearts, very much alike the newly minted secretary-general himself. 

A few big names were dropped from the CEC was surprising, but should have been anticipated to some degree. 

Tony Pua stepped on more than a few toes in building his own ideal party team, recruiting from the higher rungs of the corporate ladder and academically inclined, much to the chagrin of older members who reminisce about a simpler party whose backbone was the Chinese and Indian working class – the odd job worker, the hawker, the trade unionist and the blue-collar employee.  

His snub in the 2018 Selangor DAP elections is now proven to be ominous precursor to being overlooked at the weekend. 

Furthermore, there was a rumoured move by a few leaders associated with him to rejuvenate the party by removing some older leaders, including the former secretary-general.  

The grassroots did not quite bite the apple, and some inner circle leaders quickly found themselves outside, even those considered extremely popular with voters and civil society alike.

Some unfortunate casualties including the protégé of some suspected of being involved in the plot, denying the party capable, talented leaders.  

Such is the price of politics. 

Hopefully, when rifts are healed and intentions better understood, they would find themselves back in the party fold to help it while it finds new footing within a rapidly changing political reality, with quick-shifting loyalties and allegiances. 

Other names are experienced hands: Fong Kui Lun retains his position as treasurer and Wong Kah Woh has earned his stripes with stints as a public accounts committee chairman and Dapsy leader. 

Jannie Lasimbang’s position, too, is earned with votes.

However, rather disappointing was the Malay leaders’ inability to garner enough votes, especially to make the enlarged 30-man cut, apart from Young Syefura Othman.

This mirrors the previous results, in which Zairil Khir Johari was the only one elected.

Perhaps the lack of uptake by new Malay branches, or the more aggressive growth of other branches outpaced this.

Still, both Young and Syahredzan Johan’s inclusion in the CEC are welcome, both having become household names across communities.

With the upcoming PKR elections and Amanah’s internal adjustments, it would be interesting to watch the power dynamics of the PH coalition, as it prepares for an early election.

Yet, as far as DAP is concerned, it looks like it has an almost dream team in place. – March 23, 2022.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.