4 Penang candidates withdraw from DAP CEC race

FMT:

 

4 Penang candidates

withdraw from DAP CEC

race

FMT Reporters

-15 Mar 2025, 12:00 PM

They say the move is a show of support for secretary-general Loke Siew Fook’s 3G leadership and the party’s future direction.

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(From left) Phee Syn Tze, Soon Lip Chee, K Kalidas and PR Kaliyappan, all Penang-based candidates, have withdrawn from tomorrow’s DAP CEC election.

PETALING JAYA: 

Four Penang-based candidates, including a state assemblyman, have announced their withdrawal from DAP’s central executive committee (CEC) election tomorrow.

Sungai Puyu assemblyman Phee Syn Tze, along with former Bagan Jermal assemblyman Soon Lip Chee, ordinary members K Kalidas and PR Kaliyappan, said they were stepping aside to express their full support for the party’s “3G” (third generation) leadership under secretary-general Loke Siew Fook.

“This decision is to highlight to DAP members in Penang and across Malaysia the importance of fully supporting the 3G leadership, particularly in forming a strong and united leadership team to face the next state and general elections,” they said in a joint statement.

They also pledged their full backing for Loke’s plans “to restructure the CEC and inject fresh energy to prepare for future challenges”.

“As such, we call on all delegates to give their full support to the leadership of DAP’s 3G.”

Yesterday, Loke was reported as saying that DAP’s leadership will undergo a “major reshuffle” if he is re-elected as secretary-general in the party’s elections on Sunday.

Loke said a major change was needed to prepare DAP for future challenges so that it can remain competitive in the nation’s political landscape, Sin Chew reported.

In the joint statement, the four also said that Penang remains the most significant state for DAP, as it is the only one led by a chief minister from the party.

“To secure a fifth consecutive victory in the next state election, we need a strong and united Penang DAP that can function as a cohesive team,” they said.

However, they warned that this goal cannot be achieved if there are still efforts from within to interfere with the party and tarnish the state government’s reputation.

Tomorrow’s CEC elections are expected to be fiercely contested, following months of speculation about removing national chairman Lim Guan Eng and curtailing his family’s influence within the party.

A total of 4,203 delegates will vote during the national congress at the Ideal Convention Centre in Shah Alam. The event is expected to be attended by Prime Minister and Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim.