SUNGAI Puyu assemblyman Phee Syn Tze decided to drop out of the DAP central executive committee (CEC) party elections as she wants to eflect a strong unity bloc for the remaining seven Penang DAP candidates.
The daughter of Penang DAP strongman Datuk Seri Phee Boon Poh was among five DAP candidates who withdrew last minute.
The others were former Penang executive councillor Datuk Soon Lip Chee, Bukit Kepayang assemblyperson Nicole Tan Lee Koon from Negri Sembilan and Penang DAP branch leaders K. Kalidas and P.R. Kaliyappan.
That leaves 65 candidates vying for 30 elected slots of the CEC where all eyes would be on DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng
He is said to be under siege because he has reportedly fallen out with some leaders, especially among the Penang DAP leadership.
Phee explained that under the leadership of Penang DAP chairman Steven Sim Chee Keong and Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, she wanted to demonstrate that Penang is a united team, fully committed towards supporting both Sim and Chow.
The other CEC candidate, whom they are believed to be supporting is Ramkarpal Singh Deo, the son of the late DAP icon Datuk Seri Karpal Singh.
“We fully support secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook's proposal to revamp the CEC to foster new spirits, as we face the upcoming challenges (for the party). Therefore, we call upon all the delegates to give their full support for the third-generation leadership of the party,” she said in a statement.
Boon Poh said that he is forced to "curtail" his daughter Phee's ambition for a CEC slot because he did not want to reflect nepotism on his part.
"We would instead support Kasthuri Patto as our woman representative in the CEC."
Meanwhile, a strategist with Lim, alleged that Sim's camp is having problems lobbying for convincing support because they have yet to produce a plan on how to prepare DAP for future challenges other than removing the present chairman.
"By removing the most vocal critic, there are no other plans to ensure DAP is shielded, so it can carry out the agenda of what the people want them to do by voting them in the first place."
This may be a party election, but the eyes of the country, especially the non - bumiputra segment, are transfixed on how DAP delegates would vote, he said.
Sim's side is believed to be suffering from campaigning issues, he said. - March 15, 2025.
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