[UPDATED] Penang DAP to interview 30 new potential candidates

GEORGE TOWN – Penang is gearing up for a possible early general election, with Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow revealing that interviews to select DAP candidates will begin this week.

Chow, who is the Penang DAP chairman, acknowledged that the political temperature has moved up a notch after Umno division heads were summoned to an emergency meeting today.

He said the interviews are the first step towards selecting the best candidates available to represent DAP and the Pakatan Harapan coalition.

After interviewing 30 prospective candidates, Chow said another 29 who are incumbents, will also be interviewed.

“The 30 names were nominated by their respective branches. And we will take into account all views before we decide on who can best represent the party.”

The new candidates comprise those who are serving as city councillors, professionals, senior party activists and community leaders.

“The criteria are their political experience, service track record, academic qualifications, communication abilities, and whether they can generate new ideas and aspirations.”

Chow said that the interview process for new candidates was also done in the past four elections.

DAP will be prepared again to face the general election, he added, despite the prospect of multi-cornered fights.

As for the 29 incumbents, they are in state seats which DAP contested in 2018 and won.

It also won seven out of 13 parliamentary seats in Penang.

A panel of five state DAP leaders led by Chow, state deputy chairman P. Ramasamy and two vice chairmen, Zairil Khir Johari and Jagdeep Singh Deo, as well as state secretary Lim Hui Ying, will deliberate on the potential candidates.

Chow also said that the state Pakatan Harapan leadership committee has been invited to submit proposals for their seat allocations in Penang.

“We will discuss it at the state level and if need be, the national selection committee may need to offer their input on the candidates list.” – The Vibes, August 22, 2022