THE upcoming DAP election in Penang next month will be an interesting watch as it could determine the fate of some old faces and bring in a slew of new ones to lead the party and the state.
From the time the party came to power in the state in 2008, many of the old faces have either been sidelined or left.
One remaining “old face” is party state chairman and Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who has served as the Penang DAP chairman since 1999. He has also been DAP’s national vice chairman since 2004.
But he is at risk of being removed from the Penang hierarchy by stronger forces.
He is in his second and final term as the state’s chief minister, which means it is inevitable that someone new will be identified to take over party and state reins in time for the next state election.
DAP state elections are due to be held on September 22.
It is an open secret that things are not cosy between former chief minister Lim Guan Eng and Chow.
Guan Eng continues to wield strong influence in the state, with many of his people being picked to stand in the last state election. They are now successfully embedded in the state executive council.
This has left Chow quite isolated in the state administration, and in the state party leadership.
Chow returned from an investment mission to the USA earlier this month to be confronted that he has yet to receive any nominations from some of the party branches to contest in the state election.
As usual, he chose to keep a low-profile approach when asked about it.
Chow came under the spotlight due to alleged errors by the civil service under his watch – including the controversial awarding of an industrial land project without open tender in Batu Kawan, the flash flooding at Komtar that caused elevators to malfunction, and the unfinished Local Plan under the Penang Island City Council.
With no proper planning in place, the outcome is congestion all over Penang with concerns that pollution is now on the rise amid climate change.
Traffic congestion is now said to be among the worst in the country.
Although Chow has chalked up impressive credentials from the foreign direct investments figures, his party critics have pointed out that it was more of a coincidence rather than a strength, as the US-China trade war has redirected investors to Penang.
Chow’s style of wanting to listen to more input from the civil service rather than his own party circle has also not granted him any mileage within the party.
His supposed move to gravitate to the Malay ground to address the misconception of the party as a Chinese chauvinist group has also left party insiders upset as they feel there must be a need to balance the needs of the non-Muslims, especially since DAP represents them.
There was also an unfortunate setback when veteran but agile leader Phee Boon Poh was taken ill after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Although Phee stepped aside to allow his daughter Phee Syn Tze to assume his role, the elder is said to be a kingmaker due to his family’s influence in mainland Prai, which could still help Chow.
The Young Turks
Apart from Chow, there has also been dissatisfaction against Jagdeep Singh Deo, the state party deputy chairman and deputy chief minister ll.
He recently took almost a month-long leave from duties after being taken ill with chronic ankle and skin complaints. His absence from DAP matters is said to have unsettled the party here.
For the first time, the party is staring at its top leaders who are facing problems and there are strong questions if Chow and Jagdeep can continue to lead in Penang.
Which brings to mind the next echelon of leaders the leadership has brought to the fore after consenting to notable changes in the state DAP candidates for last year’s elections.
One narrative that is being laid out is that it is time now for Penang DAP and the state to be led by Penang-born leaders.
There is a call for the top position not to be held by imported leaders, especially after a series of policies that had upended the sentiments of the “Penang-lang” (local community).
The “outsider” politicking style has apparently unnerved local-born DAP leaders because it has allowed its enemies in the opposition to exploit the party’s faults.
Both Guan Eng and Chow were not born nor raised in Penang.
Speculations have arisen that Lim Hui Ying is being groomed for a bigger stage but there is also the Penang-lang factor in Steven Sim Chee Keong, the party’s organising secretary.
Hui Ying is Guan Eng’s sister and the deputy finance minister. Sim, meanwhile, is the human resource minister and Bukit Mertajam MP.
There are also dark horses such as Paya Terubong assemblyman Wong Hon Wai, a lawyer, who has stayed relevant since 2008 and a two-term state executive councillor.
Wong is the only state exco besides Jagdeep to be retained from the pioneering DAP government team of 2008.
There are also the other Young Turks on the fringes such as Zairil Khir Johari and Syerleena Abdul Rashid, but DAP is seen as a Chinese-dominant party, so it remains to be seen if the duo can break the “barrier” to cement strong positions in the party.
Other names touted are Connie Tan Hooi Peng, a fiery Seri Delima assemblyman, but she is relatively new.
Guan Eng may not contest in the party election but he holds considerable power as the “umpire” since he is also the party national chairman.
DAP elects its leaders first for its top 15 state committee positions and those who finish within the 15 slots must then meet to decide who leads the party.
They can also appoint others to the committee and, usually, those who finish among the top three would command the respect to decide who leads. – August 25, 2024.
History, propaganda are no bedfellows
Penang Institute wants to draw locals back to lit fest
Honouring the spirit of Malaysia 1963
Umno bukan lagi pemain politik negara, kata penganalisis
Comments
(2) if you always have bad dream
(3) You want to be promoted in your office.
(4) You want women/men to run after you.
(5) If you want a child.
(6) You want to be rich.
(7) You want to tie your husband/wife to be yours forever.
(8) If you need financial assistance.
(9) HIV/AIDS CURE
(10) is the only answer to that your problem of winning the lottery
Contact him today on [email protected]
Posted 1 year ago by Ashley walters · Reply
you can be to get the new PROGRAMMED blank ATM card that is capable of
hacking into any ATM machine,anywhere in the world. I got to know about
this BLANK ATM CARD when I was searching for job online about a month
ago..It has really changed my life for good and now I can say I'm rich and
I can never be poor again. The least money I get in a day with it is about
$50,000.(fifty thousand USD) Every now and then I keeping pumping money
into my account. Though is illegal,there is no risk of being caught
,because it has been programmed in such a way that it is not traceable,it
also has a technique that makes it impossible for the CCTVs to detect
you..For details on how to get yours today, email the hackers on : (
[email protected]
Posted 1 year ago by Zam zam · Reply
whatsapp+2348136482342
Posted 1 year ago by Quatisha brown · Reply
Email: [email protected]
OR [email protected]
Facebook Pages https://web.facebook.com/www.drsahabilovespellcastercenter1
HAVE A BLESSED DAY
Posted 1 year ago by Joshua Ezekiel · Reply
Am using this media to let you know about Dr .Akereco who specializes in the following spells.
Such as:
1) Bring back lost lovers(Love Spell)
2) Money Spell
3) Lottery Spell
4) Good Luck Spell
5) Promotion Spell
6) Cure of diseases such as HIV/Aids
7) Herbs for fertility
8) Magic practice, ETC.
If you need any of this help you can contact Dr. Akereco through his email: [email protected] or WhatsApp: +2349077425515
website: http://drakerecoproblemssolutionhome.website2.me
Posted 1 year ago by Tammy Slaton · Reply
Am using this media to let you know about Dr. Akereco who specializes in the following spells.
Such as:
1) Bring back lost lovers(Love Spell)
2) Money Spell
3) Lottery Spell
4) Good Luck Spell
5) Promotion Spell
6) Cure of diseases such as HIV/Aids
7) Herbs for fertility
8) Magic practice, ETC.
If you need any of this help you can contact Dr. Akereco through his email: [email protected] or WhatsApp: +2349077425515
website: http://drakerecoproblemssolutionhome.website2.me
Posted 1 year ago by Tammy Slaton · Reply