Local DAP leaders are denying that there is a growing movement in several states, including Penang, to topple the party's secretary-general Lim Guan Eng at the coming central executive committee (CEC) re-election.
The re-election was forced on the DAP by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) after the party admitted and corrected a technical glitch it found in its CEC polls held in Penang in December last year.
State DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow denied that there was a local faction or outsider group trying to get rid of his boss ahead of the re-elections planned for Nov 10 in Kuala Lumpur.
He said he is familiar with reports that try to pit him against Lim by saying that the former’s supporters have been sidelined and dropped as candidates in the 13th general elections.
"Such news reports are simply to split the party and create a wrong impression that those grassroots members involved, who are full of grievances, would get rid of Lim's people in the coming state elections, " said Chow in his column published by local Chinese daily Kwong Wah Jit Poh.
Chow said there are also reports that he would be "waging war" against Lim, who has become very popular in Penang, to protect his own interests.
Lim is in his second term as chief minister after leading Pakatan to win 30 out of 40 state seats in the GE.
There are also news reports that Chow, as party state chairperson plans to wage war against Lim to protect his own people's interests.
"This year is election year, so you can expect more reporting about us," said Chow, who is Padang Kota assemblyperson.
"But if the party is united enough and full of confidence, no matter how may negative news there are, it will not tear us apart," he said.
The re-election was forced on the DAP by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) after the party admitted and corrected a technical glitch it found in its CEC polls held in Penang in December last year.
State DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow denied that there was a local faction or outsider group trying to get rid of his boss ahead of the re-elections planned for Nov 10 in Kuala Lumpur.He said he is familiar with reports that try to pit him against Lim by saying that the former’s supporters have been sidelined and dropped as candidates in the 13th general elections.
"Such news reports are simply to split the party and create a wrong impression that those grassroots members involved, who are full of grievances, would get rid of Lim's people in the coming state elections, " said Chow in his column published by local Chinese daily Kwong Wah Jit Poh.
Chow said there are also reports that he would be "waging war" against Lim, who has become very popular in Penang, to protect his own interests.
Lim is in his second term as chief minister after leading Pakatan to win 30 out of 40 state seats in the GE.
There are also news reports that Chow, as party state chairperson plans to wage war against Lim to protect his own people's interests.
"This year is election year, so you can expect more reporting about us," said Chow, who is Padang Kota assemblyperson.
"But if the party is united enough and full of confidence, no matter how may negative news there are, it will not tear us apart," he said.
Kwong Wah: Plans to topple Lim
According to a recent Kwong Wah report, delegates from several states including Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Johor allegedly plan to topple Lim.
The Chinese daily claimed that a Penang DAP member forwarded two SMSes from Perak and Johor against Lim, to its reporter recently.
The SMS accuses the DAP of holding fresh polls so that Lim can get his people into the CEC, urging the delegates to "bring him down and save the party".
"The party can only have democracy without Lim, lets ubah!" read the SMS.
"Ubah" was the DAP's battle cry to topple the BN-led Sarawak government during the state election in 2011, and the slogan was again used during the May 5 polls.
The SMS also asked if Lim is paying for transport for the delegates to go to the polls, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 10.
Delegates were told not to vote Lim or his people for the party's benefit, claiming, "Our Johor comrades are angry."
Kwong Wah also quoted an anti-Lim source who alleged that while there was no clear indication, DAP Malacca seems to be always anti-Lim, while DAP Kedah is having internal leadership problems, therefore grievances towards the party are increasing.
"Lim can still be secretary-general if he is reelected into the CEC. However, if we are able to reduce his votes and position in the CEC, would he still dare offer himself as the sec-gen?" asked the source.
Several sources said that members think the technical glitch that happened during the last party polls in December was because Lim allegedly wanted to get his political secretary Zairil Khir Johari into the CEC.
However, the source said the move does not benefit the DAP as Malays are still not supporting the party.
Zairil: SMS senders saboteurs
When contacted, Zairil said he has not heard or receive such a text message, doubting whether they are being sent by DAP members or "people out to sabotage us".
Zairil, who now oversees the DAP in Kedah, said it was normal for movements like this especially when an internal election comes by.
He also disputed some of the SMSes’ contents, saying the sender has presented the situation wrongly.
"We did not want to have the (CEC) elections, we were forced into it. We resisted it very much.
“We are the victims here. The ROS abused its powers to make us go into fresh elections; we did not ask for it," said the Bukit Bendera MP.
About his chances of winning again, Zairil said, "It is very hard to predict anything now. I do not know what to expect."
Another local leader from mainland Penang Tang Beng Huat said that he, too, has yet to receive such anti-Lim SMSes.
However, he admitted hearing that discontent towards Lim was increasing in Penang and other states.
"But I do not want to criticise him," said Tan, who was former Jawi assemblyperson.
When asked if he was worried about being perceived as part of the anti-Lim campaign, Tan dismissed the matter as "a small issue".
"Guan Eng does not need to worry. He should be able to handle it, or else how can he manage a state?" said the Seberang Perai municipal councillor.
According to a recent Kwong Wah report, delegates from several states including Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Johor allegedly plan to topple Lim.
The Chinese daily claimed that a Penang DAP member forwarded two SMSes from Perak and Johor against Lim, to its reporter recently.
The SMS accuses the DAP of holding fresh polls so that Lim can get his people into the CEC, urging the delegates to "bring him down and save the party"."The party can only have democracy without Lim, lets ubah!" read the SMS.
"Ubah" was the DAP's battle cry to topple the BN-led Sarawak government during the state election in 2011, and the slogan was again used during the May 5 polls.
The SMS also asked if Lim is paying for transport for the delegates to go to the polls, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 10.
Delegates were told not to vote Lim or his people for the party's benefit, claiming, "Our Johor comrades are angry."
Kwong Wah also quoted an anti-Lim source who alleged that while there was no clear indication, DAP Malacca seems to be always anti-Lim, while DAP Kedah is having internal leadership problems, therefore grievances towards the party are increasing.
"Lim can still be secretary-general if he is reelected into the CEC. However, if we are able to reduce his votes and position in the CEC, would he still dare offer himself as the sec-gen?" asked the source.
Several sources said that members think the technical glitch that happened during the last party polls in December was because Lim allegedly wanted to get his political secretary Zairil Khir Johari into the CEC.
However, the source said the move does not benefit the DAP as Malays are still not supporting the party.
Zairil: SMS senders saboteurs
When contacted, Zairil said he has not heard or receive such a text message, doubting whether they are being sent by DAP members or "people out to sabotage us".
Zairil, who now oversees the DAP in Kedah, said it was normal for movements like this especially when an internal election comes by.
He also disputed some of the SMSes’ contents, saying the sender has presented the situation wrongly."We did not want to have the (CEC) elections, we were forced into it. We resisted it very much.
“We are the victims here. The ROS abused its powers to make us go into fresh elections; we did not ask for it," said the Bukit Bendera MP.
About his chances of winning again, Zairil said, "It is very hard to predict anything now. I do not know what to expect."
Another local leader from mainland Penang Tang Beng Huat said that he, too, has yet to receive such anti-Lim SMSes.
However, he admitted hearing that discontent towards Lim was increasing in Penang and other states.
"But I do not want to criticise him," said Tan, who was former Jawi assemblyperson.
When asked if he was worried about being perceived as part of the anti-Lim campaign, Tan dismissed the matter as "a small issue".
"Guan Eng does not need to worry. He should be able to handle it, or else how can he manage a state?" said the Seberang Perai municipal councillor.
- malaysiakini.com
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