There is also a need to manage the disgruntlement from the former DAP Chinese state assemblymen, who have to make way for new candidates either because of a much needed political realignment in Penang, or for their lack of performance.
Penang DAP, barring any last minute changes, is juggling with a cache of only 29 state and four parliamentary seats to fill, and with their PKR and PAS counterparts reeling from a perceived drop in support here, it is no “walk in the park” for them although Pakatan Rakyat is slated to retain the state.
The rest of the 40 state and 11 parliament seats are shared by PKR and PAS.
The momentum of Penang to become the nation’s focus in this election is expected to only be seen once the candidates list is drawn up, but this time around, the threat of infighting will likely come from Pakatan.
It is the grave consequence of being in government, observers here declared.
A risk of a fallout
At risk is a fallout if the DAP state leadership headed by former journalist Chow Kon Yeow cannot find middle ground to appease the various quarters.
Everybody knew what happened to Barisan Nasional after an internal sabotage during the 2008 election and this is something, which DAP is going all out to avoid, especially with the goal of capturing Putrajaya in sight.
In one corner, are the Penang DAP Indians, who are split into three movements, all with an agenda of lobbying for their own candidates.
The three DAP Indian factions have launched a concerted effort to impress upon the party leadership about a need to relook the Indian leaders who are keen to be renominated to contest in this election.
The groups hailed from branch heads, elements of the Penang DAP Indian cultural bureau and supporters of the DAP Indian assemblymen here.
They have engaged bloggers, media personalities from both the mainstream and alternative sides to illustrate their cause via tweets, statements and a memorandum.
It is learnt that the memorandum was emailed to Chow and copied to DAP chairman Karpal Singh, secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and party adviser Lim Kit Siang.
Party insiders, who preferred not to be named owing to the sensitivity of the issue, said that while the top leadership smiled at the enlarged crowds in the battleground state of Johor, the same four supremo leaders of DAP are worried deep inside that they are unable to bridge the rift here with nomination of candidates just days away.
It is also learnt that there is an indirect party gag order issued on this matter.
The four DAP Indian leaders are caretaker Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P Ramasamy, lawyers A Thanasekaran, RSN Rayer and Jagdeep Singh- Karpal’s son.
Of the four, only Jagdeep is assured of a seat in view of his growing political clout as an assemblyman and that he is Karpal’s son.
The three others are involved with a lingering squabble with all fingers pointed at Ramasamy,a former political science academician for his inability to mend the rift with the other leaders here.
In the statement and memorandum made available to the media here, the grassroots called for local Indian leaders to be given a chance, a subtle hint at Ramasamy, who since his accession to power in 2008, had to grapple with accusations that he is not a local boy, thus he is unable to understand sentiments and issues.
The Perak-born academician had tried his best, but he has often hit a brickwall concerning working together with the DAP Indian grassroots here.
The fact that he was one of the new leaders to emerge from the 2008 election after convincing victories in the Prai state and Batu Kawan parliamentary seats, Ramasamy will likely be retained as a candidate as he still has a degree of winning-abilities.
The question is where, said party insiders.
State DAP veteran K Gunabalan, while hoping that no action will be taken against him for voicing out the grievances of the grassroots, said the party should field candidates who can work together effectively to ensure the state benefits.
“It is pointless to field polarising figures, who even if they win on default since many people in Penang support DAP (not individuals), they are unable to lead or govern because the majority of the members do not support them in the first place.”
Since 2008, issues of Penang Indians were handled by different groups, and they were not working in tandem, thus the relationship within the community, was fractured at best, Gunabalan claimed.
Problems among Malay leaders
As Chow works his best to handle it, he must also deal with the issue of Malay DAP leaders, who are hardly on talking terms with each other.
It is an open-secret in the party that Penang Malay DAP coordinating committee chairman Zulkifli Mohd Noor, a party veteran cannot see eye-to-eye with the newcomers; academician Senator Dr Ariffin Omar and Zairil Khir Johari, the upstart political secretary of Guan Eng.
If the party does not meet the demands for more seats and if they cannot mend the rift in the Penang DAP Malay bloc, there might be a lacklustre response from the second highest group of voters in the state- the Malay community.
Meanwhile, in the centre of what is believed to be a brewing storm in the party, are state DAP personalities – Koid Teng Guan, Koay Teng Hai, Yeoh Soon Hin, Lydia Ong Kok Fooi, Lau Keng Ee and Tan Beng Huat, who are speculated to be replaced.
An aide of Karpal said DAP now has many talented leaders and they are all raring to be given a chance to contest.
“Asking people to sacrifice, especially those who are talented, has its limits.”
Insiders said Chow is edging towards a status quo in many of the 29 seats, but he is also worried that such a move may cause DAP to slide backwards.
DAP needs to govern well and not just to perform the role of the opposition, as the party has strong support among the electorate, insiders said.
The party may reach a peak of its wide base of support in this 13th general election, but if it turns a blind eye to issues gripping its grassroots, it is only inviting long- term problems to persist in DAP here, they added.
FMT
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