DAP congress to hear grassroots on govt role, says Chow

 Chow Kon Yeow says delegates will be able to convey the views of both grassroots members and supporters.

Whatever decision made by the DAP special congress must be followed by all party members, said party CEC member Chow Kon Yeow.

GEORGE TOWN:

 The special DAP congress taking place on July 12 will provide an avenue for delegates to convey the views of the grassroots on the party’s role in the unity government, says Chow Kon Yeow.

Dismissing claims that the congress would be a mere public relations exercise, the DAP central executive committee (CEC) member said it will allow delegates to take into account the views shared by party members and supporters at the grassroots level.

He said this would ensure the DAP leadership gets to hear the voice of both the supporters and members as it decides on its position in Putrajaya.

“Non-members can share their views through DAP members since the party is having its internal referendum on a crucial issue,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a Chinese New Year open house held at his Padang Kota service centre today.

Asked whether DAP members of the Penang executive council would resign despite being the ruling party, the chief minister said this was up to the congress.

“I have received instructions from the party on this matter. Whatever decision made by the party would have to be adhered to by party members,” Chow said.

The special congress will see 4,000 delegates deciding whether DAP leaders should resign from their positions in the unity government while continuing to support it in Parliament.

DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook said this would be the party’s first time entrusting such a major political decision to delegates at a congress, rather than having the CEC decide on the matter.

This was met with scepticism by former Penang DAP deputy chief P Ramasamy, who dismissed it as a “public relations exercise” that would not pressure Putrajaya into implementing reforms.

Chow maintained that the congress was purely to gauge whether DAP members still wanted the party to hold positions in the unity government after the six-month timeframe to implement reforms. - FMT