THE new Penang DAP leadership will be announced tomorrow as the triennial election of office bearers is completed at the Setia Spice Convention Centre near Sungai Ara.
Gone are the days when the election was held at meeting rooms of budget hotels, as the DAP of today is all-powerful with the latest compositions in Parliament and considered a strategic ally in the Pakatan Harapan-led national unity government.
While it is likely that Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong and Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, will take over the leadership of DAP Penang following the move by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to make way for a younger breed of leaders, the issue is who would be joining the duo in the top 15.
The dark horse is state executive councillor Wong Hon Wai, who is apparently in China now on official state duties, promoting the state in his capacity as the exco in charge of tourism, culture and the creative economy.
Coincidentally, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook, is also in China, accompanying His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia on a five-day official visit.
As Wong had stressed previously, this year is when Malaysia marks the 50th anniversary of its bilateral diplomatic relations with China, a nation with a long-standing historic relationship with Malaysia.
Besides Sim and Lim, those expected to feature predominantly, are Phee Syn Tze, Zairil Khir Johari, the son of former minister Tan Sri Mohamed Khir Johari, Ramkarpal Singh Deo, the son of DAP icon Datuk Seri Karpal Singh, Daniel Gooi Zi Sen (state exco member), Jason H'ng Mooi Lye (state exco member) and Jelutong MP R.S.N. Rayer, as well as Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo.
On the fringes are two-term assemblymen - Heng Lee Lee, Ong Ah Teong, Joseph Ng Soon Siang and Calvin Kumaran as well as Lim Siew Khim (state exco member).
The dark horses here are Chong Eng, who continues her struggle to serve despite her advanced years, Soon Lip Chee and Yeoh Soon Hin, both of whom were dropped as assemblymen and party veteran Lay Hock Peng, as well as Chow's ex-political secretary Teh Lai Heng.
Whatever it is, political scientist Datuk Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian sees the combination of Sim and Lim as one which Penang DAP is comfortable with.
Former DAP member Rahmad Isahak said that it remains to be seen if DAP can get leaders, who can take both the party and state forward.
The new breed of DAP leaders is unproven unlike the veterans they are replacing, so whether they can rise up to the challenges and continue the struggle, is for the delegates to decide on, said Rahmad. - September 21, 2024.
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