Loke: Switch in DAP role to 'toughen' Sim for the future

Summary

• DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke states Steven Sim's reassignment is not a demotion but a test for future leadership.

• Loke emphasises Sim's role as Penang DAP chief to consolidate support and strengthen the party.

• Loke is implementing reforms, including engaging political scientist Wong Chin Huat to improve the candidate selection mechanism.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the move to reassign Human Resources Minister Steven Sim from organising secretary to deputy secretary-general was not a demotion, but a deliberate step to prepare him for a larger role in the party.

"I made it very clear to him - this is for your long-term growth," Loke told Malaysiakini in a podcast recorded on April 8.

The second part of the episode aired yesterday on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The transport minister noted that Sim is one of the next-generation leaders of DAP.

"In fact, Sim already is one of our main leaders. He’s a minister and also the Penang DAP chief.

"But to go even further, to hold an even more significant role, he must first go through tests and challenges.

"Some in the party have reservations about him, thinking he’s had too smooth a ride, so I told him, ‘You need to go through some hardship.’”

The Seremban MP said while some may see the move as a "ming sheng an jiang" (promotion in name but demotion in essence), he believed it will ultimately benefit Sim.

"For Sim, I think it’s a good thing. I know there are outsiders who say I removed him as organising secretary and that it’s a step down. But I told him, ‘I want you to have a longer runway.’"

Unite Penang DAP

Loke said Sim should use the opportunity as Penang DAP chief to prove his leadership, particularly by uniting and strengthening the state chapter.

"The next two years will test his leadership and wisdom - whether he can consolidate support and strengthen the party in Penang.

"Within the party's central leadership structure, yes, he’s deputy secretary-general. More importantly, he’s the Penang DAP chief.

“If he uses this platform well and successfully unites the party there, his future path will be smoother.

"However, if he fails to do so in the next two years, it could damage his political career," said Loke, who just began his second term as DAP secretary-general, the highest post in the party.

Penang DAP has faced internal tensions over the past two years. The 2023 state election saw public disputes over candidate line-ups, which continued into the 2024 state party polls and spilled over into the national leadership election on March 16.

The faction aligned with former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng suffered a major defeat. Lim himself barely scraped into the central executive committee (CEC) in 26th place and later lost his position as national chairperson in the internal vote, becoming party adviser instead.

Sim, meanwhile, placed 11th in the first-round election and was elected as one of the deputy secretary-generals in the subsequent round of internal selections.

Reforming candidate selection mechanism

Before the party election, Loke promised a "bold and major" reshuffle of the party’s CEC. He also proposed a number of internal reforms, including a review of the party’s often-criticised candidate selection process.

With his second term now underway, Loke has begun implementing these changes, including engaging Sunway University political scientist Wong Chin Huat to help improve DAP’s candidate selection mechanism.

ALSO READ: Loke sets exit timeline, eyes bold reforms for DAP

According to Loke, Wong will lead a team that will study examples from abroad, including internal party primary systems in the US and Taiwan.

Loke also revealed that the next CEC meeting is expected to be held by May, where the appointment of new committee members will be discussed - and possibly also the structure of the candidate selection committee.

According to his policy speech at the March 16 national congress, the DAP plans to enshrine the candidate selection mechanism in its party constitution, with the women’s chief becoming an ex officio member of the selection committee.

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