Most popular Chow Kon Yeow returns as Penang DAP chairman
The Penang DAP top leadership remains unchanged with favourite Chow Kon Yeow, who got the highest vote in the state party polls today, returning as chairman. Chow, who is a state executive councillor, was first elected chairman in 1999. Jagdeep Singh Deo, Dr P. Ramasamy and Zairil Khir Johari also returned as deputy and vice-chairmen respectively. Lim Hui Ying and A. Tanasekharan are resuming their positions as state party secretary and assistant secretary. Danny Law is chosen to be the new state party treasurer with Jeffrey Chew as his assistant. The former treasurer Wong Hon Wai replaces ousted Teh Yee Cheu as the new organising secretary. Assisting him are Lay Hock Peng and Goh Choon Keong. Ng Wei Aik is now the now publicity secretary with Syeerlena Abdul Rashid as his assistant, while Steven Sim Chee Keong is new political education director. The committee members are Lim Siew Khim, Soon Lip Chee, Phee Boon Poh, R.S.N. Rayer, Gooi Seong Kin and Lim Hock Seng. Those co-opted into the committee are Chew, Syerleena, Gooi, Rayer and Lim. Chow said the five selected to join the committee were picked through a vote by the elected members from a list of 10. On returning as chairman, he said the responsibility had never been light and it has become heavier with DAP being in government. "The main task now is to prepare the party for the 14th general election," he said at the conclusion of the Penang DAP ordinary convention this evening. The convention had seen questions raised about the chief ministership of Penang and even proposals that the state DAP chairman should be the person holding the top post in the state government. There were also banners promoting Chow as chief minister. This has been seen as an attempt by some to pit Chow and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng against each other, leading to Chow reaffirming that support remained with the party chief in his speech this morning and called for party unity. Asked if he ever had to deal with disunity in Penang DAP during his many years as chairman, Chow said he considered himself lucky. "Maybe it is my style of leadership. Over the past 15 years, there has not been issues of internal crisis or disciplinary problems, right until now." – November 29, 2015.
