Penang DAP will give its full support to the state government led by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, pledged newly elected state party chief Steven Sim.
Sim also brushed aside questions on speculation that he is now in line to become the “next chief minister”.
“We focus on working the ground first. Okay, make sure we win the next election and establish the government together,” he told reporters when met after the state party polls concluded today.
Chow had helmed Penang DAP for over two decades but decided not to contest in this year’s state party election amid concerns that he had lost support.
There was speculation that with Chow’s exit, there would be an internal move within Penang DAP to replace Chow as chief minister.
However, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke had given assurance that Chow would serve the rest of his term.
Loke also proposed Sim as the new Penang DAP chief and for Lim Hui Ying to be retained as state party secretary, in a move aimed at ensuring stability.
There is no precedent that being Penang DAP chief was a prerequisite to becoming chief minister.
Chow’s predecessor, Lim Guan Eng – the first Penang chief minister from DAP – had never contested in state DAP polls and was, by extension, never the state party chief.
Earlier during the post-election press conference, Sim said the new Penang DAP committee will strive to continue the struggles championed by past leaders.
“On one hand, we will give full support to the state government led by Chow and also the federal government led by (Prime Minister) Anwar Ibrahim.
“And on the other hand, we will work hard to reflect the voices and aspirations of Penangites without compromise,” he added.
Sim will be heading a delegation to visit all Penang DAP parliament constituency committees to hear the voices of the grassroots and the public and recruit new members.
Penang DAP deputy chief Ramkarpal Singh and vice-chiefs Zairil Khir Johari and Yeoh Soon Hin will form a task force to engage with civil society groups to better ties between the party and Penangites, Sim added.
Sim also paid tribute to Chow for his contributions to the party in the past 25 years.
In announcing the new DAP state committee’s lineup for the term 2024 to 2027, Sim said: “This new committee is a unity team and we wish to call on all DAP members to close ranks to build a stronger party for the people.”
He said Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh is the new state deputy chairman.
Ramkarpal said he was pleasantly surprised to have received the highest number of votes today.
“I will carry out the mandate given to me by the delegates as best I can by working hard,” he said.
State exco Zairil Khir Johari and former state exco Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin are the vice chairmen.
Besides Yeoh, other state party leaders aligned to Chow – Soon Lip Chee, and Teh Lai Heng – were also voted in.
Lim Hui Ying remains as the state secretary.
Those who lost the election included state exco members Jagdeep Singh Deo and Wong Hon Wai, assemblypersons Ong Ah Teong (Batu Lanchang), Heng Lee Lee (Berapit) and K Kumaran (Bagan Dalam), as well as former DAP women’s chief Chong Eng.
Penang DAP party polls results:
Ramkarpal Singh (1,247 votes)
Steven Sim Chee Keong (1,237 votes)
Yeoh Soon Hin (1,225 votes)
Zairil Khir Johari (1,166)
Daniel Gooi Zi Sen (1,133)
Lay Hock Peng (1,120)
Jason H’ng Mooi Lye (1,074)
Woo Sze Zeng (1,047)
Phee Syn Tze (886)
Lim Siew Khim (870)
Soon Lip Chee (853)
Lim Hui Ying (827)
Phee Boon Chee (812)
Teh Lai Heng (722)
RSN Rayer (644)