All calm in Penang DAP now, say observers
“The final leaders are those popular amongst committee members, not necessarily those popular amongst grassroots. Hence, the chairpersons are often not the top voters.”
(The Vibes) – Sim is the first new leader to help the state chapter after Chow helmed it for 25-years.
A RESPITE would likely prevail in Penang DAP now after Sunday’s landmark triennial party elections, which saw Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong made the new state party czar..
Sim replaces Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who opted to stay out of the precarious elections but who would likely continue his chief ministership term until the next state election, scheduled by 2027.
Sim is the first new leader to help the state chapter after Chow helmed it for 25-years.
It also marked the first time that the Penang DAP chairman was not in a Pakatan Harapan – led Penang government for the past 15 – years plus.
“I think the peace offering between the camps led by Chow and DAP national chairperson Lim Guan Eng has been accepted even though some delegates also had their own ideas on how to take the party forward,” said Prof James Chin from the School of Social Sciences , University of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia.
“I think the fire is still burning but all sides decided not to burn the house (DAP) down and focus on the next general (state) elections,” said Chin when contacted by The Vibes.
The delegates signalled that they agreed with the recommendation by party secretary – general Anthony Loke Siew Fook of the combination of Sim (chairman) and Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying as state secretary, but not completely 100%, as the latter finished 12 out of the 15 elected winners.
In the last state election, Lim garnered the 4th most votes in the 15 seat committee.
Hui Ying is the younger sister of Lim, the scion of one of DAP founders Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang, a leader highly revered in the party.
Five were co-opted in, and questions remain how come Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo and senior state executive councillor Wong Hon Wai were left out in the cold.
Chin said that the ultimate results should not matter, as the 15 will then discuss who should hold what position, but if there is an analysis, it shows that the majority of support did go with Lim because Sim was made the state chairperson.
Sim and Hui Ying are believed to be part of Lim’s faction and there were three “cai dan” (menu) of candidates, which featured both of them predominantly.
Chin also acknowledged that Chow’s faction also won respect but it remains to be seen if they will eventually join Lim’s camp or evolve to become an anti – Lim faction in view that Chow is into his last term as chief minister in Penang.
“Sim is the right person to lead Penang eventually. He is dynamic and is good at engaging the Malay ground unlike other DAP leaders. He may be more effective at the state rather than federal levels, which are full of much backbiting and politicking from all sides.”
Chin also took the initiative to single out Chow, who he saw as a steady hand in Penang DAP after the highly contentious era of Lim when he was a two – term chief minister.
“Yes, Chow is seen as colourless and was tame compared to Lim but he was a steady hand for Penang. I think Penang will benefit from a period of calmness.”
