In the Chinese Press: Some members try to reduce my vote tally, says Guan Eng
The upcoming DAP re-election is heating up. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng revealed that some people were going behind his back, attempting to bring down his vote tally and lobbying the delegates to not attend the congress scheduled Sept 29.
In an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily today, he conceded that some DAP members have a feeling of discontent against him as they themselves, or their preferred leaders, were either not being fielded as candidates in the 13th general election (GE13) or not being appointed as government officials after the GE.
To his surprise, those who went behind his back were those he never expected, while those he supposed would made some noise, were just keeping quiet.
The Penang chief minister was responding to claims that there is a strong undercurrent beneath the surface of the re-election in which delegates from a couple of states were attempting to topple him secretly.
He said, in the interview highlighted on the daily’s front page, “I can’t predict whether the result of the re-election will be far different from the previous result but I opine that those who work in the dark are just minority, while most members and delegates are still deeply in love with the party.”
While admitting that what was previously reported did take place, he believed those who vent their anger on him still love the party, hence he hoped these delegates will still attend the congress to show solidarity.
It was reported in the Chinese papers that ripples of dissent against Lim had been getting stronger in Johor, seemingly a backlash against DAP Central’s decision to field “parachute candidates” in the GE instead of those favoured by the grassroot members.
The resentment is particularly strong in Kulai and Muar in which their delegates were said to be planning to cast “emotional votes” to reduce Lim’s vote.
DAP Kulai division liaison committee chairman Ng Pack Seong and former Senai assemblyman Ong Kow Meng had openly told Oriental Daily News that they will abstain from voting.
Chin Woo dismisses public basketball court suggestion
The board of directors of SJK (C) Chin Woo has objected to Culture and Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz’s suggestion to rebuild the school’s basketball court as a “public basketball court”, China Press reported today.
A delegation comprising representatives of the board, The United Chinese Schools Teachers’ Association (Dong Zong) and other Chinese groups had a meeting with Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr. Ali Hamsa yesterday.
They expressed their stance in defending the “completeness” of the school land.
Responding to reporters’ question, the school director Oo Tin Fuan said Nazri’s proposal to rebuild the basketball court for public use is unacceptable to the board.
Dong Zong chairman Yap Sin Tian said he strongly opposed the proposal, unless the government transfers the ownership of the land to Chin Woo.
He said if the rebuilt basketball is open to public, it will cause inconvenience to the school as it will have to make an appointment with the management whenever it wishes to use it.
However, in an immediate response, Nazri stressed that the land belongs to the government, thus the board has no say over its usage.
On Wednesday, Nazri has suggested that the government rebuilds the school’s basketball court and open it for public, as a win-win solution to the stalemate.
