70 candidates to contest in highly anticipated DAP polls on March 16

Summary

• 70 candidates will contest in the DAP election on March 16.

• Most CEC members, including Anthony Loke, Lim Guan Eng, Gobind Sing Deo, Nga Kor Ming, Chow Kon Yeow, and Steven Sim, are seeking re-election.

• However, other incumbents - Tan Kok Wai, Fong Kui Lun, M Kulasegaran, and Jannie Lasimbang - are sitting this one out.

A total of 70 candidates will be contesting in the highly anticipated DAP election on March 16.

In a press conference today, DAP organising secretary Steven Sim announced details of the party’s 18th national congress and election for its Central Executive Committee (CEC).

According to the candidate list that Sim released, the vast majority of CEC members will be seeking re-election.

They include secretary-general Anthony Loke, chairperson Lim Guan Eng, deputy chairperson Gobind Singh Deo, vice-chairpersons Nga Kor Ming and Chow Kon Yeow, as well as Sim himself.

Among the CEC incumbents, only Tan Kok Wai, Fong Kui Lun, M Kulasegaran, and Jannie Lasimbang are not standing for re-election.

The first three previously announced their decision to withdraw from the CEC race.

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Sim said they have not rejected any nominations, but nominees were given two weeks to withdraw voluntarily.

The party congress will take place on March 16 at 10am at the Ideal Convention Centre in Shah Alam.

“This congress will have 4,203 eligible delegates from 1,650 branches,” said Sim, adding that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and other Pakatan Harapan leaders will also be attending.

Two-tier process

The CEC election follows a two-tier process. Delegates first elect 30 members into the CEC, of which at least nine must be women, as required by the party’s constitution.

After the first round, the 30 newly elected CEC members convene and internally vote for the office-bearers, including the secretary-general - the highest post in DAP, comparable to the president’s role in other parties.

Therefore, any leader aspiring to a top position must ensure both themselves and their allies secure enough votes in the first round to stand a chance in the final election.

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