Family dynasties still in control of DAP

Results of the DAP central executive committee (CEC) election Saturday once again witnessed control by family dynasties in the party leadership.

As expected, veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang immediately received strong support with the highest votes of 1,607, followed by his son, Lim Guan Eng, who is the party's secretary-general with 1,576 votes. National DAP chairman Karpal Singh obtained 1,411 votes while his son, Gobind Singh Deo, garnered 1,197 votes.

His other son Jagdeep Singh Deo, however, failed to join the line-up of leaders with a mere 227 votes. Two Perak DAP leaders, its secretary and chairman who are cousins Nga Kor Ming and Ngeh Koo Ham, each joined the central committee through their win of 1,075 and 824 votes respectively.

Ipoh Barat Member of Parliament M.Kula, who garnered 984 votes, was one of the Indian leaders who successfully gained a spot in the new leadership line-up for the 2012 to 2015 term.

All 15 Indian candidates and eight Malay candidates were not given room to lead DAP, which is supposedly a multi-racial party.

The three female leaders chosen were DAP Wanita chief Chong Eng (1,006 votes), national organising secretary Teresa Kok (925) and publicity assistant secretary Teo Nie Ching (903).

Meanwhile, Lim Kit Siang expressed his disappointment that no Malay candidates were chosen despite eight contesting for a spot in the CEC.

"I am disappointed with the result, Zairil Khir Johari and Ariffin S.M. Omar were not chosen. This is not because DAP anti-Malay, but 20 seats in the CEC is small," he told reporters after the results were announced.

Lim thanked the delegates for their trust and confidence in the newly appointed CEC members who will guide the party's struggles to wrest Putrajaya in the coming general election.

Karpal Singh said the results indicated that DAP's new generation still wanted veteran leaders such as himself and Lim to join the younger generation in continuing the party's strugglers.

"The delegates have spoken and it was agood mixture of talent in the CEC," he said.

Karpal was also surprised when DAP deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw and the party's deputy secretary-general, Professor P. Ramasamy, failed to get support from the delegates.

Lim Guan Eng said the loss of Malay candidates from the CEC would be discussed in a meeting Sunday.

However, he said the delegates decision should be respected and he hopes candidates who failed would continue to fight with the party in facing 13th general election.