At times, it’s really not that difficult for outsiders to read the succession plan of a political party, the DAP being a case in point.
In fact, for a relatively stable party like the DAP, it is fair to say that even as far back as three years ago – before the pandemic struck and before DAP had to postpone its delegates conference, a succession plan had been put in place.
That was made known to all party leaders who matter – the top leadership has to be “pre-arranged” for stability and continuity of purpose while further down the line, the delegates are allowed to decide.
The succession plan was executed to perfection last week. Lim Guan Eng stepped down as secretary-general and was replaced by Anthony Loke. Tan Kok Wai was replaced by Guan Eng as DAP chairperson. Gobind Singh Deo stayed put as deputy chairperson.
I like to think that DAP delegates are a disciplined lot – they listen to the voices of their top leaders and understand the importance of stability and continuity.
Balanced lineup
However, the delegates also have their own preferences in electing central executive committee members and by and large, their personal choices reflected a pretty balanced lineup. We can overlook the personality clashes, obviously present but of minimal impact, of the DAP election.
The retirement of DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang was also a highlight of last week’s meeting. I’ve written a tribute to Kit Siang in a Sarawak daily earlier and yes, let me join the chorus for the government to honour the grand old man of the DAP, a political legend and a Malaysian statesman.
It is unfortunate that Guan Eng, undoubtedly hard-working and diligent, was unable to give his father a more joyful and blissful retirement. The pending charges against the son will surely and understandably worry a concerned father.
A query of great interest in the DAP today is the position of Guan Eng as DAP chairperson. Should he step down from the post while still facing charges in court?
Former Johor DAP chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau was the first to raise the issue, asking Guan Eng to step down as the DAP chairperson pending his corruption trial.
But it was quickly shot down by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, explaining that DAP's position is to wait until the court has delivered a decision before deciding on the fate of Guan Eng.
Chow, who is also a DAP vice-chairperson, stressed that the party would not pursue the matter until the court decision was delivered.
Allow me to give my take as an outsider with no affiliation to the DAP whatsoever.
Matter must be deliberated
I don’t think Chow is right to say that the party will not be discussing the matter at all until a court decision is made. The matter must be deliberated as the party’s standing is affected and on the line. Guan Eng is no ordinary DAP member; he is the chairperson.
Notwithstanding his personal differences with Guan Eng (to me, it has no bearing here), Boo is correct when he viewed that “any leader bogged down by corruption charges or scandals should take the initiative to resign from public office to avoid sending a wrong signal on the party’s values to the public and affecting the party’s standing in 15th general election".
In other words, no one is above the party, not Guan Eng, not Loke, not Chow, not Gobind Singh, not anyone! The party’s policies and principles are paramount – let no one in the DAP forget that!
I can think of a more valid reason why Guan Eng should take leave for now, if not step down, as party chair. Will he contest as a candidate in the coming GE15? What if the judgement is not in his favour?
Will it be the case of Najib 2.0, a convicted felon walking free while waiting for his appeal to be heard? Don’t forget, DAP has been most vocal in gunning down the former prime minister on his “free man” status. If that happens, all of DAP has to slap each other hard on the right and left. Chow should receive the first slap on the face from Loke if that takes place. Seriously!
I also do not see the absolute necessity for Guan Eng to hold the chairperson’s post. He is still an MP and a Penang state representative and already armed with the necessary credentials to speak for himself, the party and his constituents whenever he has to.
No significant power
The chairperson holds no significant power in the party and I think it makes no difference who holds the position. Also, Guan Eng should realise that Loke is now the DAP secretary-general and he (Guan Eng) should not be stealing the thunder from him. Allow Loke to rise and exert his authority as the most powerful official of the party.
The corruption charges against Guan Eng are serious - accused of soliciting bribes to help a contractor secure the planned RM6.3 billion Penang undersea tunnel project when he was the Penang chief minister in 2011. He was also charged with "wrongfully misappropriating" two plots of state land.
I would not comment on an ongoing court trial except to ask what on earth was Guan Eng thinking when he went for a meeting at a hotel in the wee hours of the morning to discuss the tunnel project (as given in a court disposition and not disputed).
I didn’t like that one bit – all government businesses should be held at the appropriate hours in the office, in this case, the Penang Chief Minister’s Office, and not anywhere else.
As for the earlier Bungalow-gate case, if I were Guan Eng, I would have waited until I retired from public service before investing in a high-end property anywhere, not only in Penang.
I’m surprised that Guan Eng has conveniently forgotten at that time that BN Nasional was still in power in Putrajaya and anything could happen to those in the opposition like him. Just don’t make a misstep. Unfortunately, Guan Eng did.
All’s said and done, it is to Guan Eng’s credit if he would step down as DAP chairperson voluntarily and save his colleagues and party further embarrassment and humiliation should anything unfavourable happen in court.
After all, what more does Guan Eng want? He has been secretary-general, chief minister of Penang, finance minister, MP and state rep – almost all there is to achieve in the life of a politician.
At times, one has to learn to let go. It’s more honourable to go voluntarily than to be forced out. - Mkini
FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is a veteran Sarawak editor and heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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