After DAP's unprecedented triumphs in the last general election, the party's membership has surged over 50 percent to more than 700 branches nationwide.

This has become a challenge to the nation's third largest opposition party as the party does not have an intermediate structure between the branches and central leadership.

Thus the party plans to amend its constitution in the national convention this coming Sunday to encourage the branches to set up more parliamentary liaison committees, which will coordinate and lead the increasing branches.

dap 2010 budget rocket cafe 071009 tony pua 01 According to DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua ( right ), the party membership in Pakatan Rakyat states including Penang, Selangor and Perak have doubled since the last general election. Pua said it had become administratively cumbersome for the party, particularly in these states.

Before the 2008 ‘political tsunami', DAP's grassroots organisation structure mainly consisted of branches due to the party's limited membership.

Currently there are 22 parliamentary liaison committees nationwide which are based on parliamentary constituencies, similar to divisions in other parties. However they do not have electorate functions, Tony explained.

"We want to encourage the branches to set up more parliamentary liaison committees by giving additional voting rights to the liaison committee," he said.

The new amendment will enable each parliamentary liaison committee to send one delegate to vote in the party polls every three years. Currently the 1,200-odd delegates who have voting rights are selected from branches.

tan kok wai dap pc 010808 02 DAP vice-president Tan Kok Wai ( left ) told Malaysiakini that the parliamentary liaison committee members will be elected by branch delegates. However, members of parliament and state assemblypersons in the parliamentary constituency will automatically be appointed committee members.

"The parliamentary liaison committee's role is to coordinate and lead the branches. This will enhance the coordination between branches and the cooperation and mobilisation of members in that constituency," said Tan.

A platform for 'parachute' representatives?

However, some leaders saw the amendment as an attempt by the party central leadership to provide a platform for junior parliamentarians and state representatives who were 'parachuted' into a constituency in the last general election.

These representatives were invited by the top leaders to join the party not long before the general election. They were then fielded as candidates and won their seats.

selangor dap 14th state ordinary convention 301108 02 However, some were not accepted by local leaders due to their lack of seniority or affinity with the party grassroots.

As a result, although favoured by the top leaders and often given important tasks at the national level, they are no more than 'generals without soldiers'.

The setting up of parliamentary liaison committees with these 'parachute' leaders automatically appointed as committee members provides them the necessary platform to lead, said a party insider who declined to be named.

Tan made no denials about the existing tensions between new members and the grassroots.

"Even different generations in a family have a communication gap, what more for a party. As long as they commit to the party's spirit and objectives, this is not a problem."

'Double representation a problem'

Some party leaders were against the amendment because giving voting rights to both branches and parliamentary liaison committees equals to 'double representation'.

"This is unfair for big states where there are less DAP representatives such as Pahang and Sarawak. It is favourable to those small but active states such as Penang," said a party leader.

He also pointed out that the move to transfer voting rights from branch delegates to parliamentary liaison committee delegates is against the democratic trend in the country.

"Even Umno and MCA are expanding their division delegate numbers to more members, why are we going against the trend?"

On the other hand, party leaders who support the amendment argued that it is necessary to create an intermediate level in the structure of the organisation as the party expands.

Although the amendment had sparked off some arguments within the party, it is expected to be passed by an overwhelming majority, if not unanimously, at this Sunday convention to be held in Ipoh.