Kuala Lumpur: “Out with the old, in with the new” isn’t just a lesson in life. Political parties also follow this philosophy periodically, allowing new young political leaders to emerge in their hierarchy especially during general elections and party elections!
The DAP party election, which will be held in conjunction with the party’s 18th National Delegates Conference tomorrow (March 16) in Shah Alam, is expected to be a platform where this philosophy will be enacted.
As far as the Indian community is concerned, DAP’s Indian leaders were popular as the Indian leaders of MIC, which was part of the long-ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. Although DAP was in the opposition some of the Indian leaders from the party were very popular among the Malaysian Indian community.
After the passing of Karpal Singh, P. Patto, and V. David, the next generation of Indian leaders emerged, including Karpal’s sons Ram Karpal Singh, Gobind Singh Deo, and Jagdeep Singh, along with Professor P. Ramasamy in Penang, M. Kulasegaran, Sivaneson and Sivakumar from Perak, Arulkumar and Veerappan in Negeri Sembilan and Ganabatirau in Selangor.
As of now Ramasamy has left the party. Kulasegaran has stepped back from contesting. So, debates are sweeping across the Indian community as to who will be the new set of Indian leaders, particularly Tamil-speaking leaders, who will emerge through tomorrow’s DAP party election.
There are also extensive write-ups in Tamil media as well on the DAP election and the Indian leaders likely to win.
DAP’s Unique Election Procedures
Performing well as a state or parliamentary representative is one thing! Being elected to positions within one’s own party is another matter which needs political manoeuvring acumen! Moreover, the DAP election field is different from other parties in Malaysia.
In DAP, at the state level, 15 state executive committee members are elected, who then elect state officials among themselves.
At the national level, 30 central executive committee members are elected. According to the party’s constitution, 9 of them must be women. This time, 15 women are contesting for the 9 positions.
Those elected 30 committee members will convene and nominate another 10 members to the central executive committee. These 40 members among them will elect the Secretary-General, Chairman and other office-bearers. This new team of office-bearers will lead the DAP for the next 3 years, until 2028.
Within the DAP hierarchy, the Secretary-General’s position is seen as the most powerful. Currently, that position is held by Anthony Loke from Negeri Sembilan state. He is also the transport minister.
70 candidates are contesting in tomorrow’s election. The question emerging among the party cadres is whether Lim Guan Eng’s faction will win again in this party election!
Who are the Indian Leaders likely to win?
As far as the Indian community is concerned, there has been widespread interest as to who would be the Indian leaders likely to win in DAP election. With well-known senior leaders like Kulasegaran stepping back from contesting, Arulkumar, Veerappan, Ganapati Rao, and Sivakumar are seen as likely candidates to emerge as winners. However, given that only 21 men are to be elected (with the balance 9 of the total 30 going to women) it is also unlikely that all the above 4 Indian candidates would be able to make it.
Gobind Singh Deo and Ram Karpal Singh are two other Indian candidates in tomorrow’s contest. They are leaders who have been thriving in DAP under the shadow of popularity of their father, Karpal Singh. Gobind Singh’s defeat in the Selangor state election is proof of this!
The main campaign theme in this DAP election is that hereditary politics and family politics should be eliminated! Due to the intensity of this approach, Karpal’s sons may also face defeat!
Therefore, the Indian leaders who will be elected, will also emerge as influential key leaders of the party for the next few years.
If those elected are also Members of Parliament, there is a possibility that they could be included in the cabinet reshuffle which is expected after the PKR party elections in May 2025!
4,203 delegates eligible delegates!
Tomorrow, according the agenda, before the commencement of voting for the election, Lim Guan Eng will address the delegates as Chairman, and Anthony Loke will address as Secretary-General. It is expected that both of their speeches will contain final hidden messages for the delegates as to whom they should vote.
From 1,650 branches, 4,203 delegates are eligible to vote in this election.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and key leaders of Pakatan Harapan are expected to attend the DAP national conference.
An international auditing firm has been appointed to monitor that the DAP election is conducted fairly and transparently.
