DAP CEC polls and line-up: Political scientists dissects the outcome

Political analysts dissected DAP’s central executive committee (CEC) election that was held in conjunction with the party’s national congress yesterday

“Gobind thing in Selangor sent a signal to the top leadership and Guan Eng that the delegates were not happy,” political scientist James Chin of Tasmania University.

“What is clear today is that he did not really maneuver on the side of Guan Eng. He sat in the middle and let the two Chinese factions fight it off. Because of that he was placed at the top.

“The other reason why is many of them sent the signal that they want Gobind to be the next chairman and this is consistent with the fact that his father Karpal Singh was chairman for a very long time so this is a clear signal they want Gobind to be next chairman to replace Guan Eng.

He also saw the rise of a younger group of leaders for the DAP.

“We have to cut our link with the older generation. That message was really sold to the delegates.

“What the delegates believed and what the party believed may not be similar because only a small group of people were given chance to vote for the 70 candidates.

“The campaign against Guan Eng worked really well. He is the biggest loser.

“The young group that came in after 2008 and 2018 are the big winners with people like Yeo Bee Yin, Hannah Yeoh and Steven Sim,

“East Malaysia did very well. Chong Chieng Jen came number two. Alice Lau is from Sarawak too. Chan Foong Hin and Vivian Wong Shir Yee are from Sabah.

“You can see a strong contingent from East Malaysia which is good for the country.

“The Perak cousins both did very well and came in,” he said in reference to Nga Kor Ming and Ngeh Koo Ham.

“The biggest winner was Loke. His speech on reform went very well but we know that most of the people already made up their minds.

“The Malays also did quite well which is good and these are part of new generation. Loke got his wish and DAP successfully transformed to the third generation leadership.

Chin also wondered whether the rise of the third generation in DAP would be emulated in PKR elections.

“Will all Pakatan Harapan components be moving to its third generation?”

USM political scientist Datuk Sivamurugan Pandian meanwhile pointed out that the new CEC is best suited to work closely in the unity government.

“It’s combination of what DAP sees the future to enhance its position within party and at central government.

“I guess this is the line up to work closely under Unity Government and DAP Ministers can check and balance through party and government position,” he said.