Lim Kit Siang will fulfil his dream as CM if leading the party in state election, says former DAP leader

Nanyang Siang Pau, July 21, 2016

Penang, July 20 – A former veteran DAP leader opined that should the Penang state assembly is dissolved to pave the way for state snap polls, only the party parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang is capable of leading the team, one of the reasons being he is able to control the allies in Pakatan Harapan to fight against Barisan Nasional, and secondly, once Pakatan Harapan succeeded in securing the fresh mandate in the state, Lim Kit Siang can realize his dream of becoming the Penang Chief Minister.

In an interview with Nanyang Siang Pau, the former DAP leader said the present situation was very unfavorable to DAP following Lim Guan Eng’s court case brought up by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Chow Kon Yeow difficult to convince the public

“Penang is the heart of DAP, DAP will definitely dissolve the state legislative assembly to hold snap elections before the hearing of Lim Guan Eng case to prevent it from causing negative impact to the party which may adversely affect the party’s performance in the coming general election.

“Moreover, the move will also achieve two things at one stroke, that is to focus on the next general election after securing a fresh mandate in Penang,” he said.

He said if Lim Guan Eng steps down as Chief Minister during the trial of the court case and the CM post is taken over by DAP Penang state chairman Chow Kon Yeow who is currently the most popular person in Penang, then it might trigger internal feud as both the senior state executive councilor Phee Boon Poh as well as Chong Eng would be discontented, and also all these three persons are unable to convince the allies in Pakatan Harapan.

“Furthermore, since the new CM candidate will affect the friendly cooperation among Pakatan Harapan allies, after taking into consideration all the pros and cons, the best person to lead Pakatan Harapan in the state elections would be Lim Kit Siang, under the leadership of Lim Kit Siang, Pakatan Harapan will win the state polls without much difficulty,” he added.

He also said once DAP succeeded in defending the state regime, Lim Kit Siang would of course assume the CM post, this would wipe out the humiliation he had suffered during the three Tanjong battles in Penang in the past state elections, and also to fulfil his dream as the Penang CM.

Play the same old trick of “Let the people be the judge”

The DAP operational strategy may repeat the same old trick——“Let the people be the judge”!

The former veteran DAP leader pointed out that DAP had deemed the court case brought up by the MACC as political persecution, cleverly passed the charges on to BN, and would let the Penang electorates be the judge to decide whether Lim Guan Eng is guilty or not through the votes, if DAP wins the statewide elections, then it is the people’s judgment that Lim Guan Eng is not guilty.

“The ordinary people is still supporting Lim Guan Eng, they viewed the court case as political persecution, DAP can’t wait to hold the state elections until the hearing of the court case begins, the state polls is expected to be held in October or November,” he said.

According to his analysis, Lim Guan Eng would not be fielded as candidate in the snap polls, as people would not accept another by-election in his constituency in case he wins the election and losses the court case.

To clean up the house through snap polls

The former DAP leader said the party would also clean up its house through the holding of statewide snap polls to eradicate those who hold different views inside the party such as Tanjung Bungah state assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu and Berapit state assemblyperson Ong Kok Fooi, as well as Pengkalan Kota state assemblyman Lau Keng Ee who was alleged to have been in great debts.

“DAP may field three heavy weight outsiders in the state polls including its Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Utara cum National Publicity Secretary Tony Pua Kiam Wee,” he added.

According to him, because of the drop out of PAS, the statewide elections might see multi-cornered tussle in mixed constituencies, therefore the snap polls is unfavorable to PKR and Parti Amanah Negara; PKR would be able to win in two or three constituencies where Chinese voters are the majority, but might find it tough in other constituencies.

“All 19 state seats won by DAP previously will be secured and PAS will maintain the one seat,” he said.