Penang Under Lim Guan Eng

Penang DAP leaders

not happy about the

‘parachute candidates’

By CHRISTINA CHIN Wed Feb 13 2008

PENANG: The DAP's intention to field three candidates from outside Penang has angered a state DAP leader, who accused the leadership of bringing in these “imports” at the expense of local leaders.

State DAP Action Team chief Tham Weng Fatt blasted the party for taking in “parachute candidates” and sidelining Penang-born leaders.

A disgruntled Tham said that his supporters even tore down the DAP posters from his bright yellow Proton Juara in anger.

On the move: Tham showing his election pamphlets while sitting in the bright yellow van he uses to meet the people in Penang.

Saying he had no choice but to go against the party's gag order, he questioned the need to bring in outsiders who were not “top guns,” adding that he had to reconsider his position in the DAP now.

The DAP has announced that blogger Jeff Ooi (from Kedah), political scientist Prof Dr P. Ramasamy (Perak) and Liew Chin Tong (Selangor) would be fielded as candidates, while party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng from Malacca is said to be contesting in the state as well.

“I have put up with backstabbing from party insiders and rumours of me being dropped from the candidates list for about two months now. If the ‘floodwaters’ keep on rising and the gossip does not stop, I will have to reconsider my position in the DAP. We cannot predict the future,” he said.

“I received more than 50 calls last night asking me whether I would be contesting. I want to assure everyone that it does not matter which party I belong to, I will continue to serve the people as I have been doing for more than 20 years,” the businessman said.

The grassroots leader, known for his public service, claimed that there were party members who were jealous of him and his work, he told a press conference here yesterday.

Tham was among those speculated to be dropped from the list of candidates.

The others are Paya Terubong DAP chairman Yeoh Soon Hin and DAP national Socialist Youth (Dapsy) treasurer Tan Hun Wooi, a son of former Batu Lancang DAP state assemblyman Tan Loo Jit. State DAP vice-chairman A. Thanasekaran's position is also uncertain.

Others said to be excluded are organising secretary Koay Teng Hai, who contested the Air Itam state seat in 2004 and committee member Teh Lai Heng, who vied for the Komtar state seat.

When contacted, Teh said he could “accept” a few outsiders contesting in the state but the majority should be Penangites as they would be more familiar with the locals' needs.

Meanwhile, another state DAP leader questioned the need for the state elections selection committee to interview 40 potential candidates in mid-2007.

“It was a complete waste of time for the locals because in the end, they brought in these imports. They are unknown to Penangites and even within the Penang DAP we do not know them,” he said.