Melaka DAP calm over lack of state leadership polls, says new chief

 

Khoo Poay Tiong was named Melaka DAP chairman for the 2024-2027 term on Sunday. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

There is no dissatisfaction within Melaka DAP over the absence of elections for the state party leadership, says its newly-appointed chairman Khoo Poay Tiong.

Khoo said Melaka DAP also did not hold an election for the 2021-2024 term, as only 15 candidates had been nominated. The state committee consists of 15 members, excluding appointed members.

“We can see that the whole of Melaka DAP is very peaceful. We can work with each other very well, there’s a strong sense of unity, although it definitely can become stronger,” he told FMT.

Khoo, who is Kota Melaka MP, said the state party could easily have held elections for the leadership if members wanted one, since DAP had more than 100 branches in Melaka and was not short of potential leaders.

“Looking at today’s numbers, we definitely would have more than 20 qualified candidates (to vie for a spot on the state committee) if we had held an election,” he said.

Potential leaders would be roped into some leadership capacity through the creation of bureaus at the state level, he said. This would give them a bigger platform to contribute to DAP and serve the people.

Khoo has been acting Melaka DAP chief since June, following the resignation of Tey Kok Kiew. He was formally appointed as state chairman on Sunday at the party’s state convention.

He was the Ayer Keroh assemblyman from 2008 to 2018 and has been the Kota Melaka MP since 2018.

His deputy is former state executive councillor G Saminathan, while Bandar Hilir assemblyman Leng Chau Yen and S Chandru will serve as vice-chairmen.

Following his appointment, Khoo said his immediate priority is to strengthen the party in the state, particularly to ensure it was more active at the grassroots level.

“Now that we’re in the (federal and state) government, there is room and a platform for us to serve the public better,” he said, adding that every Melaka DAP branch needed to hold more activities to engage people on the ground.

He described Melaka DAP’s grassroots as intermediaries serving as a bridge between the government and the rakyat, explaining public policies to the people while channeling their feedback to the government.

Khoo added that he will hold face-to-face meetings with every branch each quarter, to allow for dialogue with members and allow them to air any grouses. - FMT