Penang DAP is gearing up for its state election on Dec 1 and an intense battle appears to be on the cards between local party leaders and those aligned to secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

NONE The local faction, as it is often referred to by party insiders, is led by state DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow, who is also a state executive councillor and Padang Kota assemblyman.

Chow ( right ) is said to wield some influence in the local DAP, and his relationship with Lim is often testy, earning him the nickname "small Tokong (deity)”.

There are also those who were dropped as candidates in the May 5 general election due to alleged poor performance attempting to make a comeback to the state leadership.

So far, according to the list of 49 candidates contesting for 15 state posts, half of them are holding state or local council positions.

Among them are 18 state assemblymen and four MPs, while only three, including Lim (Bagan), Karpal Singh (Bukit Gelugor) and Kasthurirani Pattoo (Batu Kawan) are not contesting.

At the party's state convention on Dec 1, 1,112 delegates are expected to cast their votes, and some fiery speeches by local DAP leaders are anticipated during the debate session.

On the list sent by state secretary Ng Wei Aik yesterday are the names of former assemblymen and local councillors, who were dropped as candidates in the last general elections.

These include Koay Teng Hai (Pulau Tikus), Koid Teng Guan (Sungai Pinang), Tan Beng Huat (Padang Lallang) and former councillors Teoh Seang Hooi (MPSP) and Prem Anand Loganathan (MPPP).

Speculation is rife that these "disgruntled members" - as they are often termed in the party - are planning to oust those aligned to Lim, who is also Penang chief minister.

Political secretary's position 'risky'

NONE It is learnt that the position of Ng ( left ), who is Lim's political secretary, in the state committee is "risky" and he might fail to make it to the top 15. This, according to sources, is to teach Lim a lesson.

Others aligned to Lim who are trying to get into the state committee include Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari, who is also the former's political secretary.

Zairil, however, admits that it would be a difficult task as it is a "crowded field".

"I'm a first-term MP so definitely it won't be an easy ride," he told Malaysiakini .

"Well, it is an election held after a landmark GE victory (DAP swept all 19 seats in Penang), so dynamics are also different compared to the state election before," he added.

When contacted, Ng declined to comment but sources said that Lim was trying his best to keep the former Komtar assemblyperson in the loop.

A highly placed source in the party who requested anonymity said: "Don't worry, we will pull through."

Some party insiders told Malaysiakini that they were told by certain quarters not to contest so that candidates like Ng had a better chance of winning.

When contacted, Koay, who is currently in Shanghai, said he would review the list before issuing his comment.

Tan, on the other hand, refused to speculate on his prospects, stating that "it is up to the members to decide".

Asked whether the former assemblymen were working hand in hand to secure a win in the Dec 1 polls, Tan said: "We only meet for coffee, we did not form any group."

On the alleged plot to oust Ng, Tan laughed and replied: "Do you think it is that easy?"

NONE Also on thin ice is P Ramasamy ( right ), deputy chief minister II and Prai assemblyperson, who must compete with several Indian DAP leaders to make it to the list.

He faces three who are closely aligned to Karpal, his son - Jagdeep Singh Deo (state exco and Dato Keramat rep), A Thanasekharan (Bagan Dalam) and Harvinder Singh (MPPP councillor).

The rocky relationship between Karpal and Ramasamy is no secret, after both slugged it out over the "godfather-warlord" crisis two years ago, which cast the party in a negative light.

As far as Chow is concerned, criticisms are already being levelled against him and the local government (MPPP and MPSP) that he oversees as state executive councillor.

Recently Ng and Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi, both seen as Lim's men, had publicly criticised the MPPP for lack of consultation in planning to implement a new parking system for the island, and the local council's poor response in handling complaints.

The state DAP election would indicate whether Lim had managed to influence local leaders to support him.

This would be an important indicator if Lim gets to play a major role in Penang come GE14, as he sees an end to his term as DAP's powerful secretary general in 2016, unless postponed in view of the polls.