Gloves off in Selangor DAP
By V. Shankar Ganesh, New Straits Times
KLANG: A faction in Selangor DAP, which lacks all the big names paraded by its rival and is led by a critic of party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and adviser Lim Kit Siang, may cause an upset in Sunday’s state party polls.
This is the Justice Reform team, reportedly led by state Speaker and Sungai Pinang assemblyman Teng Chang Khim, who has denied its existence.
Teng and his team have, however, been actively campaigning on the need for reforms and change in leadership and Teng is also seen as someone who dares challenge the Guan Eng-Kit Siang leadership.
The team has, in any case, swept all the posts in Klang, Petaling Jaya Utara, Kuala Langat and Puchong division elections recently.
Come Sunday, delegates will vote in what will be the biggest and most intense battle in the Selangor DAP elections ever. An unprecedented number of delegates — 1,008 — will vote in 15 candidates from a pool of about 50 candidates.
The 15 successful ones will then vote among themselves on who will be the chairman, deputy chairman, vice-chairman and various other positions.
Justice Reform is up against the Unity team led by Seputeh member of parliament and Kinrara assemblywoman Teresa Kok, and it boasts of many party heavyweights in its lineup.
They include current state chairman and Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah; his deputy and Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua; vice-chairman and Klang MP Charles Santiago; state secretary and Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San; publicity chief Tiew Way Keng, assistant organising secretary and Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching; political education bureau chief Lee Kee Hiong; Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo; Kajang municipal councillor S.T. Chandra Mohan; and Shah Alam city councillor V. Ganabatirau.
Others include treasurer and Subang Jaya assemblywoman Hannah Yeoh and assistant publicity secretary and Teratai assemblywoman Janice Lee.
Those being mentioned as Teng’s allies are veterans like James Ooi, state vice-chairman T. Kannan, senator S. Ramakrishnan, state assistant treasurer M. Batumalai, Lee Ah Seng, Lee Fu Haw, Lim Soon Kang, Ivan Ho, Sekinchan assemblyman Ng Suee Lim and Michael Soon Kwai Choy.
Santiago and Yeoh are seen as being neutral and they are also said to be on the list of the Justice Reform Team. The Unity team seems to have the upper hand in this contest as it is also perceived to have the backing of the party leadership.
But Teng draws sympathy from the grassroots because he is seen to be consistently sidelined by the party leadership due to his dissenting views. This was evident when Teng was not made an executive councilor in Selangor despite his seniority and instead made the speaker.
The Justice Reform team consists of many disgruntled party veterans, some of whom were bypassed after the success of the 2008 election. Unhappy that young and new members are being given more importance, many of the veterans have rallied behind Teng.
Teng also has the backing of former state organising secretary Tee Boon Hock, who was sacked following the support letter controversy.
