DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the party’s leaders would have to start afresh and seek a re-election to their posts as the delegates and candidates are based on the 2012 list.

“It is because the term, since 2012, has been frozen and we are offering ourselves for a third term again,” the Penang chief minister said.

However, Lim does not agree that the party leadership re-election, slated for Nov 18, is a silver lining that would enable him to maintain his post until 2020.

This is because the DAP has fervently opposed the idea of re-election, which was ordered by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) after it ruled the party’s 2012 internal polls as invalid.

Lim said ROS’s decision was “unjustified and unnecessary” and affected the party’s preparation for the 14th general election.

“Why not let us proceed with the normal internal party election in 2018, which is only five months away? Why go through all the hassle for us to have a re-election based on the 2012 delegates list, freezing to 2017 and bringing us back to the past?” Lim said at a press conference today.

'Why wait for four years?'

“This is completely unjustified and unnecessary, both unprofessional and irresponsible because if you want us to carry out a reelection, you should do it immediately. Why wait for four years, and use the 2012 delegates list some more?” he said.

"There is no necessity to do that, and for those who say this is a silver lining, let me just say that we have fervently opposed it. We want normal party elections to be held in March 2018,” he added.

Lim was responding to a question on whether he would seek another term as secretary-general at the Nov 12 re-election, up to 2020, after serving in the post since 2004.

He was also asked if he viewed the re-election, the second since 2012, as a “silver-lining” for him to extend his secretary-general's post.

According to the party’s policy, an individual can only hold the office of the secretary-general for three terms, (at three years per term). 

Lim said the DAP’s elections were “justified and legally conducted” and though the party’s leaders were dissatisfied with the ROS decision, it would hold fresh elections for the third time.

“We want to show that we are not afraid or fearful to hold fresh polls, even though it would be based on the 2012 delegates list,” said Lim, who is also Bagan MP.

“The ROS’ decision was based on the excuse that we did not have a full turnout during the internal polls, but no election ever had a 100 percent turnout,” Lim added.

“Not having a full turnout of voters does not mean the results of our poll are invalid, for example, in the last national polls (2013), there was an 83 percent turnout of voters, not 100 percent. Does it mean the polls were invalid?” he asked.

“So, why do you demand a 100 percent turnout for DAP’s polls?”