Penang DAP polls: Outsiders now insiders

By Hawkeye - Free Malaysia Today

GEORGE TOWN: Delegates who walked into the hall in Komtar would have noticed an imposing banner which spelled out that they were gathered for an ordinary Penang DAP convention.

The words on the banner essentially captured Sunday's event as just a normal process - nothing out of the ordinary occurred. The 400 plus delegates voted in most of the incumbents during the bi-annual party election, while some personalities who lost were reappointed promptly as part of the process to close ranks.

Penang is now firmly a DAP bastion as its veteran chairman Karpal Singh put it, a "frontline state."

Although perceived to be parochial, Penang had accepted outside DAP leaders who were delicately planted in the state political lanscape.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng whose previous political base was Malacca, Johorean strategist Liew Chin Tong and Kuala Lumpur-based Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi were seen as "outsiders" before.

Today, they are firmly entrenched in the state, especially Guan Eng who played a behind the scene role to ensure the party election here was calmer and orderly compared to Perak and Selangor.

Yet, the rumblings on the ground by some quarters was how could the party reconcile between government and party posts since DAP was now a party in government and no longer just an opposition force per se.

Notable loser

The notable loser during the Penang DAP election was veteran member Phee Boon Poh who is a two-term Sungai Puyu assemblyman.

Phee is an affable state executive councillor and had held the party's torch during the "down" times in Penang.

He also played a key role in arranging for last month's state funeral of former chief minister Dr Lim Chong Eu.

After being edged out, Phee wondered aloud about how he went wrong.

"Is it because I was too busy performing the role of a state exco member! Perhaps, I had neglected my party grassroots," he said.

Political observers credit him for his good governing skills such as his move to preserve the environment, his attention to detail on public health and his caring society activities.

Yet, Phee lost. His bitterness was apparent when he declined to give a firm commitment on whether he would accept an offer to be an appointed committee member.

Phee's political circumtances could be similar to a certain degree with another DAP state exco member, Ronnie Liu from Selangor.

Both are hardworking state government representatives but somehow got detached from the DAP grassroots with Liu probably paying the price by earlier axing his strongest grassroots ally, Tee Boon Hock.

DAP now needs to manage both government and party roles best, said newly appointed Penang DAP treasurer Wong Hon Wai.

'Collateral damage'

They were also several assemblymen out of the 73 candidates who were "collateral damage” after the state election outcome was known.

Among them were state DAP Youth head Yeoh Soon Hin who is the Paya Terubong state assemblyman, local councillor Tan Hoon Wooi, Bagan Dalam state assemblyman A Tanasekharan, Padang Lalang assemblyman Tan Cheong Heng and Pengkalan Kota state assemblymen Lau Keng Ee.

Others who lost included Sungai Pinang state assemblyman Koid Teng Guan and observers said that some of them were actually performing well as assemblymen and government actvists but when it came to the party, they were left out or outright booted out.

Pulau Tikus assemblyman Koay Teng Hai barely made it but it came at the expense of him being removed from holding the state secretary post which was now held by Guan Eng's political secretary Ng Wei Aik.

The political comeback of Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng and Batu Lanchang assemblyman Danny Law Heng Kiang were good sentiments for the senior ranks but it came at the expense of younger leaders.

Meanwhile, Karpal openly declared that he would not support the concept of DAP leaders holding too many posts.

He wanted them to hold either a state or a parliament seat while government duties must be balanced to avoid an overload of responsibilities.

Karpal, however, said that an exception should be given to the Penang chief minister post, meaning the individual could hold both a state and parliamentary seat, as it can help improve the state's governance.

Although the dust had settled, the record number of 88 candidates seeking just 15 slots, was an indication that more members were now clamouring for posts because they presume that DAP had much to offer since it is in government.

In the meantime, Guan Eng is repeating the the word “united” over and over at all party gatherings in view of speculations that the general election is around the corner.