Lim Guan Eng Is Treating DAP As His “Father’s Party” – Do Anything He Wants To The Point Of Weakening The Party

IN retrospect, Lim Guan Eng should have never quit his position as the Penang Chief Minister (CM) to accept the role of Finance Minister in 2018.

As the Penang CM, he commanded the most important DAP fortress, had the reputation of competence and capability and he seemed certain to inherit the mantle of DAP leadership from his father, Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang.

After he became the Finance Minister however, not only did he become a laughing stock, it looks like he might be ousted from his birthright as the heir apparent of DAP as well.

As if Guan Eng’s dismal performance as Finance Minister wasn’t bad enough that he was seen to be trying to wrest the Penang CM post from Chow Kon Yeow, a post that he himself had relinquished to Chow when he went for the Finance Minister post only made it worse.

The fact that Guan Eng was not given any cabinet position in the 2022 Pakatan 2.0 government, despite being the highest ranked DAP leader in the 2018 Pakatan 1.0 government must have been embarrassing, but it was not Chow that was the cause of his shame.

It was not Guan Eng’s fault that his father is Kit Siang, so it is true that he should not be blamed for trying to create a nepotistic culture within DAP, like his critics claim.

After all, Guan Eng had paid his dues to earn his badge in DAP. Among the few DAP members who can claim to have gone to prison for the sake of the party, Guan Eng is one.

But the fact that Guan Eng is often accused of trying to create a “dynasty” within DAP has less to do with the fact that his father is Kit Siang than it has to do with his own conduct and performance.

A man who does not know himself to the point that he left the position that gave him strength for the position that brought about his downfall, sheerly because he was prodded by ambition, cannot be counted to lead a party.

That Guan Eng couldn’t accept this reality to the extent that he was seen to be trying to take back the CM post is what is establishing the perception that he likely does see DAP as his “father’s party”, where he can do anything he wants and expect to get away with it.

According to analysts, there are currently two camps in DAP. One belongs to the Men of Action, headed by DAP’s secretary-general Anthony Loke, and the other to the old True Believers who are not ready to pass the baton, headed by Guan Eng.

Of the two, the times favour Loke because this is the time for the Men of Action, not the True Believers, in DAP.

Also, the True Believers are also disadvantaged by the fact that it is led by Guan Eng, who is not a bona fide True Believer.

This is something Guan Eng must have inherited from his father on account of being his father’s son, but internally, he is not composed of the same mettle as a bona fide true believer like his father or those who stood with his father in the past.

While publicly DAP has largely stood behind Lim Guan Eng through his scandals, privately, many likely begrudged Guan Eng for being implicated in these scandals in the first place.

This is especially true of the old True Believers, who valued the quality of sacrifice, or being willing to sacrifice one’s time, energy, resources and even freedom, in order to stand beside the party in its time of need.

That Guan Eng is seen as being too comfortable in trying to gain benefits from the party to the point of weakening the party is surely something that has rubbed many True Believers the wrong way.

Considering that the True Believers are not behind Guan Eng wholeheartedly rather than because he truly believes in the party ideals will likely cause the Bagan MP to not be able to fully harness the party’s strength if he were to decide to confront Loke and the Men of Action in DAP.

Reportedly, Loke has met Guan Eng to persuade him to not stand for re-election as DAP chairman.

To not stand for re-election for the position of chairman and just resign himself to accept a position in DAP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), is an honourable, dignified, face-saving and realistic manner for Guan Eng to address his circumstances, but I have doubts that he will go out without a fight.

That Guan Eng is raging against the light and refusing to go gently into the night might put DAP’s destiny at risk, but if it is fated that DAP’s destiny is to fall into danger, then what can be done to prevent it?

DAP’s election is on March 16. By the end of this month, we will know how the cookies have crumbled in DAP.

Source : Focus