DAP’s two-tier election system “undemocratic, unjust”
Former DAP assemblywoman Jenice Lee claimed the system is also prone to encourage backdoor dealings and personal intimidation.
Leven Woon, FMT
A group of former DAP leaders today renewed calls for the party to implement direct elections following the Johor DAP state polls last week where Liew Chin Tong who received the second least votes but became the state chairman.
DAP currently practices two-tier election system, in which delegates elect 20 individuals for the national central executive committee and 15 individuals for state committee. The elected individuals would in turn decide the office bearers among themselves.
Liew was voted in as the Johor state chief through the second round selection, despite only obtaining 185 votes out of the 303 delegates and ranked lower than the incumbent chairman, Boo Cheng Hau, who received 219 votes.
At a media conference today, former Teratai assemblywoman Jenice Lee said that the system is prone to produce a leadership which does not enjoy the support of the grassroots.
“Liew only got some 100 votes, this shows that people are not keen to have him as the chairman. There is clearly a conflict of views between the grassroots and the top leadership,” she said.
Also at the media conference were Pujut assemblyman Fong Pau Teck and Negeri Sembilan former DAP leader David Dass.
Lee claimed the system is also prone to encouraging backdoor dealings and personal intimidation.
“Anyone who wants to become national chairman only needs the support of 10 of those who won in the national elections.
“After they have won the first round and are in the committee, they tend to select the office-bearers based on their self interest, and not the party members’ aspiration.
“Some even came under tremendous pressure, because certain leader will tell you if you don’t vote for them, next time you will be dropped as a candidate. This is undemocratic and unjust,” she claimed.
