Guan Eng turns to old guards as Loke-Nga seek to force him out
With the DAP election in March fast approaching, it appears that it has become increasingly challenging for Lim Guan Eng, following a Chinese New Year dinner between two party heavyweights, Anthony Loke and Nga Kor Ming.
This meeting not only reaffirmed the solid alliance between the Loke-Nga factions but also sent a strong signal to Guan Eng, seemingly attempting to pressure him into stepping aside.
The birthday bash in Penang of Malaysia’s stalwart politician Lim Kit Siang, who is 84 and now with the double titles of Tan Sri and Datuk Seri Utama, is significant for a number of reasons.
The appreciation ceremony on Feb 15 was held at Han Chiang High School. It was here on March 6, 2008, that 30,000 people – a huge number in local politics – attended an election rally by the then opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) which sparked widespread chatter that Malaysia was on the cusp of a major political change.
Two days later on March 8, the DAP won power in the Penang state elections. Mr Lim Kit Siang’s eldest son, Lim Guan Eng, became the party’s first head of a state government. The junior Lim has since gone on to become federal finance minister and is now DAP’s national chairman.
Last weekend at the high school, the chatter revolved around a different battle, this time involving Lim, 64, and his sister, Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, 61.
Among the questions were: Will Lim retain the DAP chairmanship at the party election in March, as he is widely seen as having overstayed his welcome? Or will he step aside to ensure that Ms Lim won’t be dragged down in a battle?
The party’s kerfuffle is being closely watched, as the DAP has the most seats (40) in Parliament among Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s multi-coalition government. What happens in the DAP is also of deep interest to Malaysia’s Chinese community, which gave the party 90 per cent of its vote in the 2022 general election.
The internal polls on March 16 will likely decide whether the Lim family remains the most influential in both the party and its stronghold Penang.
Despite stepping down as secretary-general in 2022 after serving for the maximum three terms, Lim remains a member of the five-person central selection committee that decides on the federal MP and state assemblyman candidates to run in elections and by-elections. He is perceived to aggressively push for members of his faction.
In the 2023 Penang state election, Lim’s faction fielded the most candidates, after challenging the proposed list put forward by then state chairman Chow Kon Yeow.
Five of Mr Chow’s sitting state executive councillors were dropped from the contest, leading Penang’s Chinese language media to describe the situation as “Commander Chow surrounded by Lim’s troops”.
As a result, Mr Chow resigned as Penang DAP chairman – a position he had held for 25 years – following the state party election in September 2024 and a heated stand-off between him and Lim. Yet, Mr Chow remains as Penang’s chief minister until 2028, when the next state election is due.
Lim’s aggressive tactics backfired in that DAP poll. Only two of his favoured candidates secured positions in the Penang DAP state committee. One of the survivors was his sister, who was returned as state secretary.
“The result of the September 2024 election was a wake-up call for him,” said a Penang grassroots leader. “If Guan Eng continues to foster division within DAP, he might even drag his sister Hui Ying into the losing streak in the upcoming CEC election”, referring to the 30-strong elected central executive committee.
“We respect his father, Kit Siang, for his sacrifices and contributions to the party. But Mr Lim’s aggression has become intolerable,” added the source, speaking to The Straits Times on condition of anonymity to maintain party harmony.
Both Lim and his father, who were imprisoned under the Barisan Nasional government’s Internal Security Act, had earned great respect for their roles as the nation’s conscience and social justice advocates.
The younger Lim is facing an ongoing trial for alleged corruption related to an undersea tunnel project.
Aside from the Lim family, the son of another late founding DAP member, Mr Karpal Singh, faces a bleak future in the CEC election.
Mr Gobind Singh, a federal minister, failed to defend his position as Selangor DAP chief in the November 2024 election. This has raised concerns that the pioneer generation’s dominance in the party may end soon.
Penang DAP chairman Steven Sim, in a tribute before thousands of party members on Mr Lim Kit Siang’s birthday on Feb 15, praised the 84-year-old for his willingness to allow the new generation to take over, despite being qualified to serve as a minister.
“Kit Siang was always an opposition MP or backbencher… But since we assumed power, Kit Siang has agreed to open up space for the new generation. He is not addicted to power, putting the party and the nation before himself.”
Mr Sim’s statement is widely interpreted as a reference to the younger Lim, who campaigned tirelessly in the national party election across Selangor, Johor and Kuala Lumpur in January 2025.
“Previously, Guan Eng’s charisma made campaigning unnecessary. Now, he’s working tirelessly to engage the grassroots,” an incumbent CEC member told ST.
According to a source close to Lim, the meet-ups were aimed at “helping Mr Gobind” retain his position as national deputy chairman.
In Johor, Lim held at least three grassroots meetings from Jan 14 to 16, with his father and sister in attendance.
A participant told ST: “During his speech, Guan Eng said the current CEC line-up is in line with DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke. He gave Mr Loke significant credit for managing government affairs successfully.
“This signals that Guan Eng wants to stay in the mainstream rather than being marginalised,” the participant added.
One example of Lim’s advocacy was his call for a review of “oppressive” provisions on Feb 13, such as detention without trial for up to 28 days under a Malaysian security Act.
Within 24 hours, the Anwar-led Cabinet instructed the Home Ministry to review the Act, marking a victory for Lim as he stood firm on his reform agenda.
For some DAP members, the Lim father-and-son team is highly regarded for their contributions and sacrifices, said DAP vice-chairman Teresa Kok.
“It’s camaraderie. We’ve been through highs and lows together with the Lim family. Moreover, Guan Eng is now humbler than he was as the chief minister of Penang and the finance minister.”
Mr Phoon Wing Keong, head of the Huayan Policy Institute think-tank, believes Lim will not easily give up on the national chairmanship.
Said Mr Phoon: “Guan Eng is a key figure who led DAP to the peak of governance. He made significant contributions to Pakatan Harapan and to Mr Anwar during his tenure as Penang’s chief minister from 2008 to 2018.” Pakatan Harapan is the ruling coalition in Mr Anwar’s federal government.
The last two birthday celebrations for the elder Mr Lim were glitzy affairs, in hotel ballrooms filled with prominent people, diplomats and tycoons.
But the Feb 15 birthday party was solely for DAP Penang members, a more muted event that appeared to be a return to his humble way of life, despite being a major name in Malaysian politics.
The biggest question from the event: Can his two children survive the March 16 national party election?
Source : Straits Times
‘Romance of the 3 Kingdoms’: Can Guan Eng survive DAP polls in March?
Anyone following Malaysian politics, particularly in Penang, would know that DAP national chairperson Lim Guan Eng has an infamous moniker – “tokong” (deity).
This term originated in 2012 when Guan Eng was still the Penang chief minister. Then-deputy CM Mansor Othman criticised his perceived arrogance in a closed-door meeting, referring to him as “tokong”.
Although Mansor later clarified that “tokong” was meant to reflect the high regard and esteem Penangites had for Guan Eng, it was evident that he was uncomfortable with the term. Over the years, he has repeatedly and publicly urged people to refrain from using it.
Regardless of interpretation, the term came to symbolise his once-unassailable political dominance in Penang over the past 16 years.
However, since the Penang DAP state election on Sept 22 last year, a series of developments have raised questions about whether Guan Eng’s political aura is beginning to fade.
Although he did not contest the state DAP election, his influence loomed over the proceedings. Guan Eng and his supporters had a few times publicly criticised Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow’s administration, fuelling speculation that he intended to push for his sister, Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, as Penang DAP chairperson – a potential stepping stone to the CM role.
However, with DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke’s “intervention” – an allegation that Loke has denied – Human Resources Minister Steven Sim was elected as Penang DAP chairperson, while Hui Ying retained her position as state DAP secretary.
The election results triggered widespread speculation that Guan Eng’s faction had suffered a major blow, with some of his loyalists seemingly abandoning him.
Two months later, in mid-December, a Bagan DAP parliamentary constituency delegates’ meeting chaired by Guan Eng once failed to convene due to a lack of quorum.
Notably absent were local heavyweights Phee Boon Poh and his brother Boon Chee, further fuelling rumours of fractures within Guan Eng’s once-formidable stronghold.
For his supporters, however, the bigger challenge lies ahead – the DAP central executive committee election scheduled for March 16.
Insiders claimed that the Penang DAP election results revealed a decline in Guan Eng’s support within the state, now estimated at only 30 to 40 percent.
“His true strength has been exposed,” one CEC member told Malaysiakini.
The 2022 CEC election
Guan Eng served as DAP secretary-general from May 2004 to March 2022. During his 18-year tenure, the party enjoyed a golden era, capturing Penang, as well as co-governing other states and Putrajaya alongside coalition partners.
In the 2022 party election, Guan Eng stepped down as secretary-general due to term limits. Rumours swirled that he would transition to the role of chairperson and potentially continue wielding influence behind the scenes.
The secretary-general post is the highest in DAP, comparable with the president’s post in other parties.
However, just days before the election, Loke and Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming reached an agreement to join forces. This ensured that Loke emerged as a powerful secretary-general, while Nga secured the role of DAP parliamentary leader, becoming the party’s second-most influential figure.
It was said that several leaders also pressured Guan Eng and his father Lim Kit Siang to step down together. Although Kit Siang initially accepted a nomination to contest, he ultimately announced his retirement during the party congress on March 20, 2022, withdrawing from the CEC race and declaring he would no longer contest parliamentary or state elections.
While Guan Eng assumed the chairperson role as planned, the combined strength of Loke and Nga’s factions gradually eroded his influence.
Within the DAP, the states of Perak, Selangor, and Penang host the most branches. Nga, after years of consolidation, now firmly controls Perak DAP, the party’s largest delegate base.
Although Negeri Sembilan, where Loke serves as state chairperson, is not a major base, Loke enjoys loyal support across multiple states.
Selangor, meanwhile, remains fragmented among various factions, with no dominant camp.
Power dynamics within DAP
However, the Penang DAP election last September disrupted the balance. With Guan Eng’s base shrinking, grassroots movements are reportedly brewing to oust him in the March CEC elections.
A DAP CEC member likened the party’s current power dynamics to the three kingdoms era in Chinese history.
“If Loke and Nga join forces, the Guan Eng faction could collapse. However, given DAP’s culture and traditions, I believe Loke won’t take that step,” the leader said.
As of now, neither Loke nor Nga has explicitly indicated their stance on ousting Guan Eng.
Addressing speculation about a movement to remove Guan Eng, Loke said the party elections should not revolve around a single individual or position.
“The party election is about the direction of the party… I don’t think we should focus on Guan Eng or any one person, but on the future of the DAP,” he told Oriental Daily in an interview on Tuesday.
A CEC member noted that removing Guan Eng would not be easy.
“It’s possible, but not easy… After the ‘unexpected events’ in Penang, I think Guan Eng will do something,” said the source who wished to remain anonymous.
Party insiders suggest that, with no avenue in Perak, Guan Eng may focus on rallying support in Selangor.
Lims prepared to leave
When asked by reporters in Penang on Wednesday, Guan Eng revealed that he has decided on whether to contest in the upcoming party polls. However, he added that he would only announce it at an appropriate time.
Meanwhile, Hui Ying recently stated in two separate interviews with Kwong Wah Yit Poh and Oriental Daily that the Lim family is prepared to “leave” if party members and voters no longer see their service as necessary.
“At the party level, it’s up to the grassroots to decide. At the national level, voters will make that call,” the media-shy politician said in a rare interview.
Even if Guan Eng successfully wins a seat in the March party election, the political influence of “Lim family” is undeniably waning
The Penang DAP election results last September have changed the dynamics.
The outcome dealt a heavy blow to Guan Eng’s faction, as the “Lim family” was no longer the preferred choice among Penang party members.
The Lim faction was almost entirely wiped out, except Hui Ying, the only Lim faction leader and Kit Siang’s daughter, who retained the state secretary position and barely passed the preliminary round of voting.
With the “Lim family” gradually losing its grip, voices within DAP grassroots have begun calling for Guan Eng’s removal in the March central executive elections.
In response, both Guan Eng and Hui Ying recently acknowledged that this election will determine whether the “Lim family era” is coming to an end.
Hui Ying even bluntly stated: “If the grassroots or the people no longer need the Lim family, we are ready to step down.”
Datuk Teng Chang Khim, a former DAP central executive committee member, wrote two consecutive posts on X (formerly Twitter) before Chinese New Year, arguing these concerns were not baseless.
Teng wrote in his post that while “sending off the god” (a metaphor for removing leadership figures) may be satisfying, the current leadership lacks sufficient strength, prestige, and achievements to intimidate or counter political opponents.
He warned that neither the Chinese nor non-Chinese communities, even factions within the party, see them as having enough wisdom and influence.
He further argued that removing key figures now would accelerate DAP’s decline and eventual demise.
Given the current situation, he suggested postponing the “sending off”.
Teng urged DAP members to be cautious about the current political landscape. He emphasised that the party must endure the pain of a drastic leadership transition, which has led to the present dilemma.
Additionally, he advised party leaders to be more open to embracing different opinions, stating that although the “god” in DAP may be difficult to deal with, those in power must broaden their mindset, accommodate dissenting voices, leverage strengths, and discard weaknesses – all in the interest of the nation and society.
Although Teng did not mention names, it is widely understood whom he was referring to.
Teng could not see eye-to-eye with Guan Eng in DAP. However, his recent warning to postpone the removal of key figures for the sake of the bigger picture might cause delegates who had planned to challenge Guan Eng to reconsider.
The deciding factor will ultimately be the stance of Loke Siew Fook and Nga Kor Ming.
Although Loke is only the Negeri Sembilan chairman, he wields great power as the DAP secretary-general. His strong performance in office has established him as a formidable force.
Meanwhile, Nga has firm control over Perak, a major vote bank, and enjoys support in other states, too.
If Loke and Nga combine their influences, they could significantly sway the outcome of this party election – including determining the fate of the “Lim family”.
Having lost its Penang stronghold, the “Lim family” can no longer dictate its own destiny and now relies on external support to maintain its political standing.
That said, based on DAP’s culture and tradition, it is unlikely that Loke and Nga would completely eliminate the “Lim family”.
They will probably ensure that Guan Eng survives the preliminary election, but whether they will back him to continue as chairman in the final vote remains uncertain.
As for Hui Ying, retaining her central executive committee seat seems even more doubtful.
Nonetheless, even if Guan Eng successfully wins a seat in the March party election, the political influence of “Lim family” is undeniably waning.
The new leadership line-up formed in this election will present a fresh face as DAP prepares for the next general election.
Tempers flare after Kit Siang dinner, Guan Eng’s aide calls Sim ‘traitor’
Internal conflict within the DAP has intensified, with an associate of national chairperson Lim Guan Eng openly berating state chief Steven Sim with Hokkien vulgarities at a dinner in Penang.
The dinner was held to honour party veteran and Guan Eng’s father, Kit Siang.
Despite the outburst, Sim remained composed, responding only with a smile.
Ironically, this happened on the same day party secretary-general Anthony Loke dismissed claims of any internal strife within the party.
An eyewitness confirmed to Malaysiakini that the incident happened when Sim greeted the supporters after the dinner.
A portion of the incident was captured on video and has since gone viral on social media.
The man who berated Sim has been identified as Tan Khong Chong, a special assistant to Guan Eng, who is the Bagan MP and faces a significant challenge in the party’s central executive committee (CEC) election on March 16.
The footage showed that two other party figures – Bagan Jermal assemblyperson Chee Yeeh Keen and Bagan DAP Youth chief Foo Weng Kar – were also present.
Penang DAP chief Steven Sim (in white shirt) smiles despite being berated by an associate of Lim Guan Eng at a tribute dinner
According to the eyewitness, as guests were leaving, Tan approached Sim and repeatedly shouted “Fan Gu Zai” (traitor) for nearly 10 seconds.
The video footage shows Sim warmly greeting attendees and posing for photos, while Tan, standing behind him, loudly accuses him in Hokkien of attempting to undermine his “boss” (Guan Eng).
Vulgar Hokkien insult
At one point, Tan hurled a vulgar insult at Sim in Hokkien.
“Kiong*** … Never mind, let him fall!” Tan is heard exclaiming.
The footage also showed Tan reaching out to pat Sim on the shoulder, appearing to confront him directly.
“Eh, Steven, I’m not wrong, am I? You’re a traitor, aren’t you?
“If he dares to fight, we dare to fight too. What’s there to fear? He has his people, and we have ours. Let’s wait and see!”
However, Sim remained unfazed throughout, neither responding nor engaging, continuing instead to smile and interact with attendees.
When contacted this evening, Sim appeared unconcerned about the incident.
“Last night’s event was about celebrating Lao Da’s (a respectful term for Kit Siang) birthday. Lao Da was happy, and all our comrades were happy too.
“That’s what matters most to me. Everything else is unimportant,” he told Malaysiakini.
Speculation over Guan Eng’s waning influence
Last month, Malaysiakini reported that since the Penang DAP state election on Sept 22 last year, a series of developments have raised questions about whether Guan Eng’s political aura is beginning to fade.
Although he did not contest the state DAP election, his influence loomed over the proceedings. Guan Eng and his supporters had a few times publicly criticised Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow’s administration, fuelling speculation that he intended to push for his sister, Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, as Penang DAP chairperson – a potential stepping stone to the CM role.
However, with Loke’s “intervention” – an allegation that Loke has denied – Sim was elected as Penang DAP chairperson, while Hui Ying retained her position as state DAP secretary.
The election results triggered widespread speculation that Guan Eng’s faction had suffered a major blow, with some of his loyalists seemingly abandoning him.
DAP’s Wants Guan Eng Out
As campaigning for the DAP elections next month intensifies, a group of veteran members is alleging the existence of a “deep state” within the leadership, aimed at undermining the influence of national chairman Lim Guan Eng and his team.
They said a move was reminiscent of the infamous “Kick out Kit Siang” (KOKS) campaign in the late 90s, which saw a group in Penang attempt to get DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang out of the state following the party’s disastrous performance in the 1995 general election.
Veteran DAP grassroots leader S Neelamekan, the Lunas branch chief and a party member since 1986, said some leaders appear to have lost sight of its original struggles and are being influenced by certain “outside” forces in their efforts to oust Guan Eng from the leadership.
He said the presence of a deep state within the party is obvious as there appears to be an organised movement to get delegates to embarrass Guan Eng by either voting him out of the 30 elected central executive committee (CEC) members or reducing his votes drastically.
“Is there an agenda to climb the political ladder faster? Is a leader trying to please the prime minister to secure his position by weakening certain DAP leaders so that the government remains unchecked?
“There is growing talk that young leaders are using money politics to undermine senior leaders. The question is, where are these young leaders getting their funding from? Who is backing them to weaken DAP from within?” said Neelamekan, who claims to speak on behalf of the veterans’ group.
He said an incident at the weekend’s gathering in Penang to honour Kit Siang’s service to the party has given rise to talk that there is an open feud in the party between Guan Eng’s group and another led by Penang DAP chairman Steven Sim.
“At the dinner, a group was seen campaigning openly against Guan Eng. This resulted in an argument between the supporters,” he said.
A party source said this move to oust Guan Eng is also aimed at pleasing the Malay electorate who are said to prefer a more moderate and compromising leader to helm DAP when campaigning in the next general election due in about two years.
He said even a senior component party leader had apparently told Guan Eng that his “days as party leader are numbered as the knives are out”.
Neelamekan said for now, DAP needs the combination of Guan Eng, secretary-general Loke Siew Fook and vice-chairman Nga Kor Ming to clean up the party as many junior leaders are trying to betray the leaders who built DAP.
“We must not allow external forces to take control of DAP. If we allow this, DAP will lose its principles and its struggle for justice.
“If this happens, the integrity of the party and the trust of the people who have supported DAP for decades will be shattered,” he said.
Source : FMT
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