Major changes in DAP appear to be taking place in line with the party's phenomenal growth since taking the non-Malay electorate by storm in the 2008 general election.
Party insiders have been dropping hints of a "new team" to lead DAP into the "next level in GE13", or the country's 13th general election which is widely expected to be held by March 2013.
Yet, many were surprised when Seputeh MP Teresa Kok announced on Twitter that she would not defend her post in the DAP Women's wing where she is the National Secretary.
Teresa also revealed that DAPSY chief Anthony Loke would not seek re-election as the party's Youth chief.
Anthony Loke w/draws from contesting in DAPSY # I w/draw from DAP Wanita. I need to concentrate in party#govt affairs : Teresa Kok @teresakok
Trouncing MCA & Gerakan
The party had postponed the elections, originally scheduled for August 2011, in anticipation of the 13th General Election. Coalition mates PKR had held theirs in 2010 and is only due to conduct internal polls again next year, while PAS completed their election in 2011.
Meanwhile, more than 2,000 DAP delegates from all over the country are slated to attend the Penang congress. Lim Guan Eng, the DAP Secretary-General and Penang Chief Minister, is expected to rally the troops and put his party into high gears for GE13, in which DAP is forecast to trounce the BN's MCA and Gerakan.
More upward space for younger leaders & newbies
DAP watchers said the moves by Teresa and Anthony would help to open up more leadership posts to newcomers.
"Both are very popular and regarded as outstanding performers. How to take them on if they don't withdraw? Anyway, Teresa already has too much on her plate and this is a wise move. But I think both Teresa and Anthony will still retain some position or other in the party's main decision-making committee," a DAP watcher told Malaysia Chronicle.
Indeed, apart from heading the DAP Wanita wing, Teresa is also the National Organizing Secretary as well as the DAP Selangor Chairman. The USM graduate is also the assemblywoman for Kinrara and the Senior State Executive Councillor for Investment, Industry & Trade in the Selangor state government.
Anthony, whose full name is Loke Siew Fook, is Member of Parliament for Rasah and state assemblyman for Lobak. He is expected to play a lead role in the Pakatan Rakyat's bid to wrest control of the Negri Sembilan state government in GE14. Apart from heading the DAP Socialist Youth or DAPSY wing, Anthony is also the DAP's Political Education Director.
Malaysia Chronicle
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