DAP leaders are expecting few changes in the leadership line-up as most of the incumbent central committee (CC) members have been re-nominated to contest in the annual national congress this weekend.

Only five out of the present 26 CC members have not been re-nominated. They are vice-chairperson Chew Chin Sin, assistant treasurer Lau Dak Kee, committee members Sim Tong Hin, Pang Hock Leong and Wong Kim Lin.

The party's life adviser Dr Chen Man Hin has also declined nomination this year.

Thirty-eight candidates are contesting for party posts at the annual congress on Aug 18 and 19 in Kuala Lumpur. They include top leaders such as national chairperson Lim Kit Siang, deputy chairperson Karpal Singh, secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock and vice-chairperson Lim Guan Eng.

Party elections are held every three years with delegates at the congress having the right to select 20 of the 38 candidates as CC members. The new committee will then elect the key office bearers in a meeting after the congress.

The new team may appoint up to 10 additional committee members.

Controversial call

Kerk told malaysiakini that looking at the candidate line-up, he does not expect a keen contest this year although the party's Youth chief Teng Chang Khim had earlier requested chairperson Lim to refuse nomination last month.

Teng had said that it was time for Lim to make way for new leaders as he has been at the helm for 32 years.

"Lim has been at the top for almost a generation. I don't think the younger generation will place hope in him for another 30 years," Teng had said.

Several DAP leaders criticised Teng for trying to spilt the party while others backed his right to express his personal view.

Following this, the party's central committee decided to impose a gag order on the matter, and warned Teng not to repeat his call or he would face disciplinary action.

Retreated to background

Lim later told members at a dinner in Klang that he was grateful for Teng's views and "kind words".

Lim told the crowd that "a diversity of views was welcomed" but vehemently denied that the party was on the brink of another crisis.

He added that since his election as the party's national chairperson, he has retreated to the background and explained to members that the secretary-general was the party's chief executive officer.

"The secretary-general is vested with the greatest powers and responsibilities under the party constitution for all leadership, organisational and administrative matters," said Lim.

"I have not interfered and do not propose to interfere with the secretary-general's responsibilities," he added.

Party members observe that Kerk is a 'reluctant' secretary-general, a seat-warmer who has been placed in that position because he posed no threat to the old guard.

Kerk declined to comment beyond saying that the delegates at the congress has the ultimate power to decide the new line-up for the party