Stop harping on past sacrifices, DAP’s top leaders told

Selangor DAP committee member Teng Chang Khim says the party must move forward with support from the grassroots. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The surprising conclusion of the Selangor DAP State Ordinary Convention 2018 should be a lesson for all top party leaders, a committee member said today.

Teng Chang Khim said the new state leadership line-up, which saw the exclusion of former Selangor DAP chairman Tony Pua, was a message to “elite leaders” to stop harping on past sacrifices.

“It’s a very clear message. We don’t care how you want to win votes but stop talking about past sacrifices as the members are tired (of listening to it). Even the public is tired,” he told reporters.

Teng who was the state vice-chairman during the last term said the top leaders must not neglect the feelings and contributions of the grassroots.

He pointed out that the grassroots had never given up on the party and never stopped working for the party during hard times, despite the absence of its leaders.

“When the leaders were in jail, the grassroots continued to work for us. But were they rewarded? Some have been working hard, without asking for anything in return yet we neglected them. We must go forward with our grassroots,” he said.

He said DAP’s past sacrifices had been rewarded after the Pakatan Harapan coalition took over the government.

Teng said party leaders must move on from talking about sacrifices and should discuss how they would plan for the future.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo was chosen as the new Selangor DAP chairman, succeeding Pua.

Gobind had the 9th highest votes with 393 while Pua didn’t make it into the top 15 as he was placed 20th with 292 votes.

Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister and DAP Selangor assistant secretary Ong Kian Ming barely made it into the state committee, coming in at 14th spot with 324 votes.

The top three candidates were Selangor DAP treasurer Ng Sze Han with 491 votes, followed by publicity secretary Tiew Way Keng with 463 votes and Sg Pelek assemblyman and secretary Ronnie Liew with 442 votes.

The Selangor DAP election was said to be a closely fought contest between the grassroots and the central leadership.

The convention also passed seven resolutions which included supporting Budget 2019, pushing for the continued probe and prosecution of those involved in the 1MDB and other scandals, getting the Sedition Act as well as other draconian laws abolished and to push for the recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC). - FMT