DAP top guns mum on firefighting in feuding Johor chapter
JOHOR POLLS | DAP hosted a fundraising dinner in Kluang last night ahead of the Johor polls but the elephant in the room was left unaddressed.
The party’s top guns have been playing firefighter over a factional feud in its Johor chapter ahead of the state election.
However, DAP chairperson Tan Kok Wai (above) and national organising secretary Anthony Loke made no mention of the issue when addressing the fundraising dinner last night.
Kok Wai told journalists after the event that the issue was being resolved.
"DAP will work as a team and the selection of candidates will be handled in the fairest manner," Tan said.
Since last week, speculation has been rife that several DAP incumbent assemblypersons would be dropped, including Tan Hong Pin (Skudai), Cheo Yee How (Perling), Ng Yak Howe (Bentayan) and Yeo Tung Siong (Pekan Nanas).
Johor DAP grassroots have organised several protests and flash mobs to register their disagreement.
The four are seen as not being aligned with Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong.
Liew Chin Tong a.k.a Zhuge Liang
Factional rivalries
It is an open secret that there are two factions in Johor DAP - led by Liew and Hong Pin respectively – and the bad blood between them has existed since the state party polls in 2018.
DAP has announced that Tangkak assemblyperson Ee Chin Li, who is aligned as Hong Pin, will be allowed to defend his seat but the fate of other members of Hong Pin's camp is unknown.
Liew had confirmed that Hong Pin won't be fielded in the Johor polls, explaining that the plan was to move Hong Pin to the parliamentary seat of Labis.
However, as this is the first time the Johor polls are not being held together with the federal polls, Liew said Hong Pin will need to wait until the general election due in 2023.
Hong Pin's supporters are unconvinced and view it as an attempt by Liew attempting to purge his rivals.
Liew was present at the fundraiser last night but did not address the press.
Meanwhile, Johor DAP deputy Teo Nie Ching admitted that the controversy will definitely have an impact on the party, thus she is hoping that they will find a solution as soon as possible.
“I believe in the wisdom of our party members. I also believe those who love the party, the ‘real rockets’, will finally put aside differences and try their best to help the party,” said Teo
Yesterday, it was reported that Hong Pin’s team may boycott the election unless all five incumbents from their team are re-fielded.
However, Hong Pin strongly denied the report and revealed that they had met with the party’s candidatures committee led by secretary-general Lim Guan Eng in Kuala Lumpur last Wednesday.
"We offered an alternative, win-win solution. The discussion was very cordial and positive.
"We have expressed our views through the internal channels and are still waiting for the party’s decision,” said Hong Pin in a Facebook post last night.
During the fundraising dinner, DAP leaders including Teo and Loke explained at length Pakatan Harapan's memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Umno-led federal government.
MOU scepticism
They acknowledged voter pessimism since the collapse of the Harapan government through defections but stressed their deal with the new government had helped to arrest the political turmoil amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
They added that one of the conditions of the deal, namely the introduction of an anti-party hopping law, is expected to be tabled in Parliament next month.
"The anti-party hopping law can help restore the people's confidence in our democratic system and to come out to vote," Loke said.
Anthony Loke
He added that Harapan constituencies also continued to receive RM3.5 million in federal funding.
Harapan's opposition peers Pejuang and Warisan have painted the coalition as "selling out" for entering into a deal with the Umno-led government.
Teo stressed that the opposition coalition did not sell out their principles but is leveraging its negotiation power to push the federal government to implement reform agendas.
Over 300 people attended the dinner and about RM15,000 were raised.
Also presented were the DAP candidates for Mengkibol (Chew Chong Sin), Penggaram (Gan Peck Cheng), Paloh (Sheikh Umar) and Amanah’s Mahkota candidate Muhammad Taqiuddin Cheman.
The opposition is facing an uphill battle in Johor after bruising setbacks in the Malacca and Sarawak polls.
Their troubles are compounded by low voter turnout due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and this will likely be amplified in Johor due to a large Malaysian diaspora working in Singapore and won't be able to return to Johor for the polls due to restrictive travel rules.
Johoreans will go to the polls on March 12. Nomination day is set for Feb 26.
He added that Harapan constituencies also continued to receive RM3.5 million in federal funding.
Harapan's opposition peers Pejuang and Warisan have painted the coalition as "selling out" for entering into a deal with the Umno-led government.
Teo stressed that the opposition coalition did not sell out their principles but is leveraging its negotiation power to push the federal government to implement reform agendas.
Over 300 people attended the dinner and about RM15,000 were raised.
Also presented were the DAP candidates for Mengkibol (Chew Chong Sin), Penggaram (Gan Peck Cheng), Paloh (Sheikh Umar) and Amanah’s Mahkota candidate Muhammad Taqiuddin Cheman.
The opposition is facing an uphill battle in Johor after bruising setbacks in the Malacca and Sarawak polls.
Their troubles are compounded by low voter turnout due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and this will likely be amplified in Johor due to a large Malaysian diaspora working in Singapore and won't be able to return to Johor for the polls due to restrictive travel rules.
Johoreans will go to the polls on March 12. Nomination day is set for Feb 26.
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