Fireworks in store at DAP congress in Penang?

The choice of Penang for the coming DAP congress next month may have raised the eyebrows of observers who see it as a party strategy to consolidate itself for a tough fight come the 13th general election.

DAP also faces internal elections this year and major changes in the line-up would create waves in the already stormy waters of the party’s history.

Questions abound as to whether there would be changes to the posts of chairperson and secretary-general, held by Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng respectively.

However, since everyone is bracing for one of the most challenging elections in Malaysia’s electoral history, it is unlikely that DAP members would want to rock the boat.

To keep the party out of controversy, Karpal’s chair will most likely be untouched.

Karpal, a vocal veteran, is after all considered “an icon” of the party that rejects any suggestion it is a racist organisation.

The same goes for Lim, who has another term to serve in his highly powerful post.

“There are no undercurrents in the DAP elections. I do not think there will be any big changes to the main posts such as chairperson and secretary-general,” state DAP secretary Ng Wei Aik said when contacted.

103 candidates nominated to contest

About 2,500 delegates will attend the convention to be held at Penang Interantional Sports Arena on Dec 15 and 16. The last party election was in August 2008 and the party had postponed its elections twice.

A total of 103 candidates have been nominated to contest for the 20 central executive committee (CEC) posts, but some may have already withdrawn as the deadline for doing so was 5pm yesterday.

The delegates get to elect 20 leaders, who will then decide on the party’s line-up, and the new central executive committee will appoint another 10 to the CEC.

Former party vice-president Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim was one such person appointed, but he eventually turned against the party following a disagreement with Lim over the Bersih rally.

Asked about the party’s Selangor vice-chief Teng Chang Khim ( right ), who is often in the spotlight, Ng declined to comment.

However, sources within the party said Teng would make it to the final 20 central committee members.

"Teng is always able to get support... it is better not to leave him out," said the source.

Teng, too, appears to want to keep out of the limelight, at least for this coming big party big event in Penang.

When contacted, the Selangor speaker declined to comment, and expressed his wish not to be dragged into any controversy.

However, Teng will most likely attend the convention this time so that he can avoid becoming a topic of interest in the media, as his absence during the last Selangor convention caused quite a stir.

First women’s wing AGM in 40 years

Meanwhile, the DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) and Wanita wings will elect their leaders on Dec 9 in Kuala Lumpur.

This would be the first women’s wing national AGM since it was set up 40 years ago, Wanita chief Chong Eng ( left ) told the Chinese media.

The contest in the Dapsy wing is more exciting since there are direct elections for the chief, deputy, and secretary-general posts.

The challenge here appears tougher as all the main posts are being contested and those who wish to withdraw must do so by today.

The contest for the Dapsy top post would be most likely be between assemblypersons Teo Kok Seong (Bahau), Wong Kah Woh (Canning) and Janice Lee (Teratai).

“Teo’s supporters are mainly from the southern states like Johor; Wong, from the northern region; while Janice may get the support of our female members,” Ng said.

“The problem (for Janice) is that the female representatives are split between the Dapsy and Wanita wings. However, the trio will all try to get the most support from KL and Selangor,” he added.

“Janice ( left ) has been the earliest candidate to walk around to get support. Don’t underestimate her, but she also needs to prove herself since she recently lost her state Dapsy post in Selangor,” he stressed.

Ng denied that the contest for the Youth chief post would be a proxy war between former Dapsy chief Nga Kor Ming and current leader Anthony Loke.

Ng discounted any talk of factional fights between the DAP, saying that Loke also took over the post from Dapsy DAP chief Ngeh Khoo Ham “smoothly”.

In a related development, Ng said the selection of the venue for the convention is nothing out of the ordinary as the party’s CEC has decided on the venue since the middle of the year.

“It is not related to the alert that Penang may lose power at the coming polls as noted by Lim recently,” Ng claimed.

“We’ve held the national convention in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Perak in the past years, so it is normal to decide to hold it in another Pakatan Rakyat state.”