The national DAP leadership has openly backed incumbent state chairperson Chow Kon Yeow to retain his post at the state party polls in Penang today.

Speaking at a press conference after presenting his speech at the DAP Penang convention at Komtar, Lim said he openly declared his support for Chow ( below, far left, followed by Lim Guan Eng and Karpal Singh respectively ), who is Tanjung MP.

penang dap convetion 121210 chow kon yeow, guan eng and karpal pc “There is no dispute there,” Lim told reporters, adding that he had decided not to contest the state chairperson post as his plate was full.

“We need stability, experience, and leadership ability to steer Penang DAP forward,” he added, clearing referring to Chow, who has helmed the state leadership post for the past 11 years.

These remarks quashed rumours that Lim was reportedly backing Deputy Chief Minister II and Batu Kawan parliamentarian P Ramasamy for the post.

Other than Chow and Ramasamy, the other contender for the state chairperson post is Batu Lanchang assemblyperson and state exco in charge of tourism, Danny Law Heng Kiang.

At the press conference, Chow said the number 88 (the number of contenders) is a figure one normally does not see in the party polls, whether at state or national level.

He added that 50 percent of the candidates were new members, and were not familiar with the election process.

“This is democracy ala-DAP; all you need is a nominations from two branches and you are in...this is not something abnormal,” he said.

On the quality of candidates, however, Chow said that campaigning time was limited therefore there was a lack of familiarity with the candidates, for example, on their vision or motives for joining the contest.

‘Revive Indian Cultural Bureau’

Meanwhile, DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh, who was also at the press event, said the Indian Cultural Bureau should be revived as many members had requested for it, especially those from the Indian communities.

NONE It is amongst the issues that several Indian party members have criticised Ramasamy ( right ) for failing to address.

Ramasamy has maintained that he is the leader for all Penangites and not just the Indians.

Chow however said that in principle, the party leadership has agreed to the revival of the bureau.

“But we are leaving it to the incoming state committee to look into the constitution of the bureau,” he said.

On limiting the number of party posts for leaders, Karpal said this should be implemented in view of the coming general election.

However, there can be an exception, added Karpal, for example in the case of the chief minister.

Karpal said times have changed and the party had more members now, so that the need for leaders to hold multiple posts no longer existed unlike in the past.

“This suggestion has been quite well received by the grassroots,” he said.