Guan Eng urges DAP members to support Penang candidates

Amid internal criticisms over his candidacy in the state elections, DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng has urged all party members to support the top leadership’s decisions in relation to the Penang candidates’ list.

English daily News Straits Times quoted Lim (above) as acknowledging unhappiness among those not nominated to contest but at the same time calling for support from all members.

“We hope everyone can support the decisions made. We understand the feelings of those who were not nominated… we understand.

“But let us get together to make sure that we can retain Penang in the upcoming state election,” he reportedly said in Penang.

The Bagan MP said this in response to criticism that he is being fielded to defend his Air Putih seat for the fourth term, while there were others including caretaker deputy chief minister II Dr P Ramasamy who were dropped after their third term.

On his own candidacy, Lim reiterated it was a party decision to have both continuity as well as renewal of its line-up.

“The party has to make decisions based on strategic considerations. Of course, everyone is free to express their views but what is important is that this will help to stabilise and unify the party,” he said.

Earlier today, incumbent Bagan Dalam assemblyperson M Satees reportedly claimed that a single “emperor” had decided on the state DAP candidates’ list.

Satees, who was dropped from defending his seat, also claimed that he was not fielded because of his support for caretaker chief minister Chow Kon Yeow.

According to NST, Lim had declined to comment on Satees’ claims.

“He (Satees) must not forget that we made the decision to support Chow as the chief minister for a second term if the Pakatan Harapan-BN coalition retains power in the state in the coming election.

“We were part of the decision-making process... we were part of the team that endorsed Chow as chief minister. As such, let us stand united and not be divided by these comments,” Lim was quoted as saying.

Among the notable incumbents dropped in the major shake-up were five caretaker state executive council members – deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy, DAP Women’s chief Chong Eng, Phee Boon Poh, Yeoh Soon Hin, and Soon Lip Chee.

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