DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng wants his party to listen to the people and give hope to them for a better tomorrow, as the party began voting for a new Penang chief today.
Addressing some 2,000 delegates and observers, Lim said that the people want a better livelihood, education, employment opportunities, healthcare, and digital services, especially in Penang, which is grappling with traffic congestion and climate change.
"But many ask me how do we achieve that when we are in government and come face to face with policies unpopular with our base of supporters. Our first duty is to engage with our government members.
“If there is no opportunity for such engagement or our views are not heeded despite such engagement, then we can choose to or not to voice out publicly," said Lim at the opening of the Penang DAP convention and party elections here.
Chow, who is also the Penang Chief Minister, is expected to complete his full second term as chief minister despite stating that he is stepping aside as state party chairman.
As 1,446 delegates now vote to decide who will succeed Chow and unveil a new 15-member leadership lineup for Penang, which is the crown jewel state of DAP, Lim reminded that DAP was in the Opposition for the longest time.
Thirty-one delegates are vying for 15 - -elected slots in the state DAP election constitution, after which the 15 victors will meet to decide who holds what position in the state party leadership, including who to co-opt into the lineup.
Many of the veterans, while only a few now can recall, made huge sacrifices for the party and individually so the party could be in the government of the day, said Lim.
"Beginning as an opposition party for over 40 years, before we first won power with Pakatan Rakyat in the 2008 general elections and then through Pakatan Harapan winning the Federal government in 2018 and 2022 general elections."
"DAP is now a power partner and slowly being led by a new generation of leaders who had never been in opposition. No longer do you need to fear or suffer from the trials and tribulations of being an opposition party?
Lim recorded his appreciation to Chow for his 25 - years of leadership of the state DAP movement, starting with his tenure in 1999. - September 22, 2024
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