Sombre days in Penang DAP as convention looms
GEORGE TOWN: Sunday’s Penang DAP convention will be vastly different from years past, in more ways than one. For one, it is being held at the huge Spice Arena in Bayan Lepas with 33,000 sq ft of floor space so as to allow ample space in a Covid-19 era.
While Penang DAP’s days of meeting in its narrow Kinta Lane headquarters are long gone, the Spice Arena is still a huge climb up from the hotel ballrooms where the conventions were held over the last few years,
However, those were happier days as DAP was on the ascent, first taking Penang and then Putrajaya as well. This year, the mood is expected to be more sombre as members react to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government and a plethora of issues, including the recent voter registration row at the Perak convention in Ipoh.
The grassroots are expected to be unhappy, with many delegates delivering a painful post-mortem of what went wrong and what needs changing, insiders and grassroots leaders told FMT.
“Many hardcore grassroots members feel the party’s brand has been tarnished over its stance on many national issues during its time in PH,” an insider said.
The party’s continued cooperation with former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and its idea of working with Umno, both of which are seen to be disadvantageous to the party, are among the issues likely to be loudly discussed.
“DAP was at its height in 2018. After two years in power, DAP’s flirtations with Mahathir and Umno have fuelled undercurrents of discontent.
“In a larger context, we have become a ‘yes’ man. We also did not see the fulfilment of the promise to make Anwar Ibrahim the next PM. Also, we are seen to be trying to appease the Malay right-wing, the same position that cost Gerakan its Penang powerbase,” an insider said.
The weaknesses were not so obvious as long as DAP and its PH partners held federal power but once PN took over, “things have become worse, with disenchantment at grassroots levels”, the insider said.
The popularity of the Lim family – adviser Kit Siang and outgoing secretary-general Guan Eng – has also taken a hit, with Guan Eng facing a corruption probe over his house in Penang. He has since pleaded innocence and claimed to be a victim of political persecution, but in politics, suspicion is enough of a stigma.
This year, some 300 branches are eligible to vote. A total of 44 candidates will contest for the 15 office-bearer positions. Of the number, 16 are from the mainland while 28 are from the island. About 2,000 delegates will cast their votes.
It is believed that there are at least three factions in the state DAP but checks by FMT showed that no one faction has overwhelming support, although there is a large group aligned to state party secretary Hui Ying, who is Guan Eng’s sister.
Other smaller groups appear to be aligned to state chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who has held the chairmanship since 1999.
Brothers Phee Boon Poh and Boon Chee continue to be a formidable force, while former elected reps such as Ng Wei Aik, Danny Law and Jeff Ooi are pockets of influence in the party, although they are seen to be in conflict with the party’s national leadership.
No DAP leader in Penang can make it without the sizeable Indian support in the state, with deputy chief minister P Ramasamy and his henchmen Satees Muniandy and P David Marshel continuing to command the Indian vote.
Also challenging for the Indian vote are the Lion of Jelutong Karpal Singh’s sons, Jagdeep Singh Deo and Ramkarpal Singh Deo. Jagdeep appears to be priming for a top Penang government position after the next general election.
A party leader, however, has dismissed claims of factionalism in the DAP.
“There will always be discontent among family members. In the DAP, we are brothers and sisters, we take it to the side, talk over coffee, and it is settled. There is no factionalism.”
Political cooperation with Umno, women representation
Penang grassroots leaders surveyed said the political cooperation with arch foes Umno would be raised at the convention, while questions will also be raised over the perception that Penang was sidelined when PH was in power.
The long delay in getting the Penang International Airport expanded, the weak response in countering plans for the new Kulim airport and the announced upgrades for the iconic ferries that never came – these were some of the gripes.
“State chairman Chow was seen as fighting for Penang, but when Guan Eng went to Putrajaya, he was different. Now Guan Eng is going through a rearguard battle, no thanks to the deception of PKR MPs.
“At least you can be certain that most DAP members are principled and have yet to move elsewhere,” the grassroots leader said.
Chemor Lane branch member Daniel Gooi, a first-term assemblyman, felt members were wrong to say Penang was sidelined. He said that as finance minister, Guan Eng cut tolls for both bridges in Penang, allocated millions for a new cable car to Penang Hill and proposed other initiatives, only for PN to kill them. Gooi finished 30th – and last – at the last convention in 2018.
Other hot topics expected to dominate the convention would be the Wanita wing’s demands of a mandatory 30% women representation at all levels. This has been fiercely countered by those in the branches, saying it was unrealistic.
“The reality is that not many women are interested in joining politics,” a branch leader in Bayan Lepas said. The Penang government has already set aside 30% of places for women under the nominated assembly member system.
The racial makeup of the DAP is also of concern with Happy Valley branch chief Ganeson Ramasamy reiterating his past claims that DAP remains a “race-based, Chinese dominant” party.
He said that although at least 20% of Penang DAP members were Indians, with 41 branches being “totally Indian”, they are being sidelined in top leadership roles.
The Malay question will also be a key factor in the convention, as only Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Zairil Khir Johari sits in the party committee. In fact, he obtained only 328 votes the last time around to finish 17th and had to be co-opted into the committee.
Penang DAP voters are unpredictable. The last time around, even the powerful Ramasamy only received only 303 and also had to be co-opted into the committee. Jagdeep got the second highest number of votes with 468, behind Chow who had 520. Ramkarpal had 439. - FMT
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