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."
Unlike Lim, who was more dynamic, Chow in his quiet and unassuming way, had transformed Penang in the past five years, bringing development although there is criticism that he should have done more for the heritage preservation.
"There was no drama except for his rift with the (Penang) Chinese Chamber of Commerce," said Chin.
Another academic Dr Wong Chin Huat opined that DAP practises indirect elections, like parliamentary democracy.
"The final leaders are those popular amongst committee members, not necessarily those popular amongst grassroots. Hence, the chairpersons are often not the top voters."
That said, someone unpopular amongst the grassroots would find it hard challenging to be leader, said Wong in an interview.
Sim and Lim were chief ministership aspirants. Loke wants to avoid competition between the two. The grassroots appear to not see Sim and Lim of equal weights."
For Hui Ying to finish a dismayed 12, it could also be attributed to her lack of performance as first deputy education and now deputy finance minister.
Wong also wrote that: "Like in any party that has tasted power, popularity in DAP is gravitated towards those with executive powers, which was limited to chief ministers during 2008-2018 and expanded to cabinet ministers in 2018-2020 and now after 2022."
As a beneficiary of executive power, Lim's control of the party was greatly expanded with his chief ministership and later finance ministership. After the Sheraton Move and more so after the end of his secretary - general tenure, Lim seems to be fading out. Penang's term limit on chief ministership and DAP's term limit on secretary - general are great reforms to prevent the emergence of an "un - retired great leader", like two term prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed."
Had Lim commanded great respect like his father or the late (Datuk Seri) Karpal Singh who never had executive jobs, he would remain influential after losing executive power.
In his case, his reputation was tainted by his court case, his spats both with UMNO and with his chief ministership successor Chow, said Wong.
"I believe many voters in Penang still like Lim's straight talking, decisive, combative style, the same traits in Duterte and Trump that attract their supporters, more than Chow's cautious, considerate and consultative statecraft that is sometimes seen as weakness. However, perhaps more voters and party members in Penang feel eight years of such governance was enough, like how many Malaysians felt when Mahathir finally stepped down in 2003."
This makes the idea of a second Lim as chief minister unpopular, coupled by Hui Ying's lack of shining achievements so far as compared to her capable brother, said Wong. - September 23, 2024
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