Mischief at the DAP national congress in Penang?

The DAP will venture into one of its most challenging national congresses this weekend in Penang, with rumours circulating that there's a plot a'foot to unhorse party chairperson Karpal Singh.

But the party veteran himself is in the dark over the matter, saying with a laugh: "I don't think there is such a plan. There must be some mischievous fellow trying to create mischief."

Karpal's (left) supporters like Seri Delima assemblyperson RSN Rayer also rubbished it, saying feedback from grassroots indicate that the veteran lawyer is enjoying strong support.

"There is no truth in the rumours. We are confident he will be returned as the party's chairman.

"We need able leaders like him to back us up for the coming general election," Rayer told Malaysiakini.

Such rumours surfaced when Karpal came out strongly in the media to voice his views on PAS' Islamic policies and his ‘one seat, one candidate' proposal, which some read as indicating that he might not be getting a hearing in the party.

Karpal said the one seat one candidate suggestion - which exempts only Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng - is just one of many resolutions before the delegates this weekend.

"Let the delegates decide. It is not for us, the CEC, to decide. Given the platform, the members should come out and speak their minds boldly, without any fear.

"They have this opportunity every three years. They must raise their concerns on whatever they feel about the party or its leader and we will listen," said the Bukit Gelugor MP.

100 days to Putrajaya

Leaders may have little to worry about as most expect that things to go smoothly.

It's expected that the impending polls would capitalise on as a rallying point to warn members  that creating chaos would result in grave losses for the party.

Senior CEC member Lim Kit Siang ( right) had already reminded delegates in a statement that the national congress would be a historic curtain-raiser to the ‘Hundred Days to Putrajaya' campaign.

He urged them to "prove BN and Umno prophets of doom wrong with a ringing and powerful endorsement for the Karpal-Guan Eng leadership to head the DAP into the battle for Putrajaya".

"Put to rest the lies and falsehoods spread by the BN and Umno propagandists in their attempt to split the DAP national leadership," he added.

He was possibly referring to Anti-DAP blogs and the media churning out less than flattering reports on the alleged internal strife of the party, which faces its own internal election this year.

DAP national organising secretary Teresa Kok said there are 66 hopefuls vying for 20 posts, adding that the party has about 150,000 members from 730 branches, where a total of of 2,576 delegates will attend the two-day congress in Penang.

Some quarters are concerned over the voting pattern of new delegates but others think that long serving and tested leaders will retain their CEC posts.

Karpal, who has served the party over 30 years, said he is prepared for the eventuality of not being elected into the central leadership, saying "it's the delegates' decision, we have to accept it as they are the highest decision making body".

But the grassroots think that senior leaders like Karpal and Kit Siang would be returned.

DAP Nibong Tebal chairperson Teoh Seang Hooi said his 34 division delegates - who met last night - have decided to consider the "loyalty, faithfulness, and commitment" of party leaders when casting their votes.

"This is a crucial point in time for the party. Whoever wins must have the capability to lead the party into the 13th general election," said Teoh, who is attending his fourth congress.

"They must have served the party long enough and have proven track records that show they are able to lead us," added Teoh, who is Seberang Perai Municipal councillor.

But some sectors are already hinting that the recent DAP Socialist Youth election last week is an indication that those aligned to Lim, ( left ) who is DAP secretary-general, are losing support.

For example, in the election, Lim's political secretary Ng Wei Aik who contested the powerful Dapsy secretary post, to Tan Hong Pin, Johor's wing chief, and a close associate of the state's chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau, who is well known for not being a 'yes man'.

When contacted, the Komtar assemblyperson declined to comment beyond saying "It is in the past. Let the past stay in the past".

However, a party delegate close to Ng said that what happened to him was merely an "isolated case" - more to do with factions within the party in Perak, which affected the voting results.

"Also, some may not be happy about Ng, especially those in Penang, as he complies strictly with party rules and regulations as the Penang secretary, and takes action without fear or favour," said the delegate, who requested anonymity.

Nepotism within party charges

As the party had postponed polls twice expecting a snap general election in 2010, many issues are simmering below  the surface, waiting to explode.

DAP opponents have criticised the party for being undemocratic, saying that a dictatorship type rule is growing within the leadership.

Other thorny issues include charges of nepotism as several leaders are related, like Karpal, and his sons Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, and Dato Keramat assemblyperson Jagdeep Singh Deo.

Others include Lim and his father Kit Siang, who is Ipoh Timor MP, while Perak DAP chief and Beruas MP Ngeh Khoo Ham and Taiping MP cum Pantai Remis assemblyperson Nga Kor Ming are cousins.

Teoh said delegates will not penalise a leader for being related to another, adding "we judge on performance and ability plus sincerity".

Meanwhile, the party is facing a completely different ball game now.

In the past 15 national congresses, the DAP, together with its allies in Pakatan Rakyat, were strictly an opposition outfit, with little hope of winning a two-thirds majority in Parliament, let alone capturing four states.

Now DAP rules Penang and is a ruling partner in Selangor, while it wields some influence - though some would say negligible - in Kedah and Kelantan, the two states led by PAS.

As it gains more support from all sectors of society, the party is also being pressured by outsiders like the Penang Malay Congress to prove its sincerity in wanting the support of the community by placing more Malay members in the CEC.

In the past, delegates viewed and demanded that their leaders be effective watch-dogs, to take the BN-led federal government to task over issues of corruption and abuse of human rights.

But now it sees the leadership as potential takers of Putrajaya.

It would appear that the most important question the delegates should ask then when casting their votes is: will the new CEC be able to govern the country should Pakatan win the GE, work with its partners, PAS and PKR, and still hold on to its founding principles of a Malaysian Malaysia?

"Let's see what happens this weekend. There are many young delegates. No one knows how they will vote," mused Karpal.