Nga and Ngeh come close to being ousted

(MM) – Two powerful cousins who virtually controlled Perak DAP yesterday came within a whisker of being voted out of a 15-man state committee at the 16th Perak DAP convention at Bukit Merah Laketown Resort near here.

Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, who is the Beruas MP and Sitiawan assemblyman, captured the last spot with 565 votes while cousin Nga Kor Ming, who is Taiping MP and Kepayang assemblyman, came in 14th with 571 votes.

Nga, however, was elected as the new chairman.

Ngeh, who was appointed as the state DAP adviser, addressed the members saying he was not being ousted and it was a result of the transition planned over the last three years.

He said the chairmanship succession plan was proposed to the committee but members felt his service was needed in view of the 13th general election.

“I will still assist DAP in a different capacity,” said Ngeh.

Nga, during the committee meeting said, the members had unanimously elected Ngeh as the chairman but he declined.

“Without Ngeh, DAP will not be what it is today with a 100 per cent winning record in the 2008 and 2013 general election,” Nga said.

Twenty-six candidates had been nominated to vie for the seats but two withdrew at the last minute.

A total of 791 delegates cast their votes, with Canning assemblyman Wong Kah Wah obtaining the highest votes with 738.

Batu Gajah MP V. Sivakumar came in second with 730 votes, while Pantai Remis assemblyman Wong May Ing, contesting for the first time, took third spot with 724 votes.

Bercham assemblyman Cheong Chee Khing was the only casualty among the elected representatives.

Elected representatives contested and won 14 of the seats. The only “outsider” to win a seat was former Ipoh City Council councillor Cheah Pou Hian.

Two non-Chinese candidates — Sungkai assemblyman A. Sivanesan and Buntong assemblyman A. Sivasubramaniam — also won seats.