Ramasamy, Zairil appointed to Penang DAP committee after not getting enough votes

The Penang DAP committee for the 2018-2020 term.

GEORGE TOWN: P Ramasamy and Zairil Khir Johari failed to obtain enough votes to emerge among the top 15 vying to be part of the Penang DAP committee.

However, they are still in the committee after being appointed as vice-chairmen again.

Returning officer and Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foon Hin announced that Ramasamy, who held one of the two state DAP vice-chairmanships for the 2015 to 2018 term, garnered 303 votes.

Ramasamy obtained 33 votes less than the last person in the top 15, Phee Boon Chee, who received 336 votes.

Zairil, the other state DAP vice-chairman, received 328 votes.

Those in the top 15 are eligible to be elected as office bearers. Another five slots are appointed.

Incumbent state chief and Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow scored the highest votes at 520, followed by deputy chief and state exco man Jagdeep Singh Deo at 468 votes and fellow exco member Yeoh Soon Hin at 458 votes.

As a result, Chow remains as Penang DAP chief, a position he has held since 1999. Elections are held every two years.

In fourth place is Senator Lim Hui Ying at 448 votes, followed by state exco man Phee Boon Poh at 442 votes. Hui Ying is DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng’s sister.

Others, from sixth to fifteenth place are:

• Ramkarpal Singh Karpal Singh (Bukit Gelugor MP)— 439 votes
• H’ng Mooi Lye (Jawi assemblyman) — 435 votes
• Steven Sim Chee Keong (Bukit Mertajam MP, Deputy Youth and Sport Minister) — 424 votes
• Danny Law Heng Kiang (former Penang exco member)— 405 votes
• Lay Hock Peng (DAP veterans’ club chief) — 377 votes
• Ng Wei Aik (former Tanjong MP)— 377 votes
• Soon Lip Chee (state exco member, Bagan Jermal assemblyman) — 359 votes
• Wong Hon Wai (Bukit Bendera MP)— 357 votes
• Teh Lai Heng (Komtar assemblyman, political secretary to Penang chief minister) — 353 votes
• Phee Boon Chee (exco Phee Boon Poh’s brother) — 336 votes

The Penang DAP committee members for the 2018-2020 term are as follows:

Chairman: Chow Kon Yeow

Deputy chairman: Jagdeep Singh Deo

Vice-chairman: P Ramasamy (appointed)

Vice-chairman: Zairil Khir Johari (appointed)

Secretary: Senator Lim Hui Ying

Assistant Secretary: Yeoh Soon Hin

Treasurer: Wong Hon Wai

Assistant treasurer: Danny Law Heng Kiang

Organising secretary: H’ng Mooi Lye

Assistant organising secretary: Lay Hock Peng

Assistant organising secretary: Teh Lai Heng

Publicity secretary: Steven Sim

Assistant publicity secretary: Syerleena Abdul Rashid (appointed)

Political education director: Soon Lip Chee

Committee members:

• Phee Boon Poh
• Ramkarpal Singh Karpal Singh
• Ng Wei Aik
• Phee Boon Chee
• RSN Rayer (appointed)
• Lim Siew Khim (appointed)

It was also revealed that a total of 1,086 delegates were eligible to vote, but only 798 attended. Uncollected ballot papers stood at 10 and 788 ballot papers were returned. There were 29 spoilt votes and 759 valid votes.

When contacted, Ramasamy said he accepted the results of the election and said it showed that democracy was thriving in the DAP.

“There was active campaigning by other candidates. I did not campaign much this time around. Anyway, I accept the results and I am happy to be co-opted into the committee.” - FMT