DAP sources told FMT there was unhappiness within certain quarters over the failure of their preferred candidates to secure seats on the state leadership team.
Ramkarpal Singh, Steven Sim and Zairil Khir Johari were placed first, second and fourth at the Penang DAP election on Sept 22, 2024.
Following the party polls, Sim, the human resources minister and Bukit Mertajam MP, was named the state chapter’s chairman for the 2024-2027 term.
The source, who asked to remain anonymous, said the trio are part of Penang DAP’s new generation of leaders who have “shaken up the status quo”.
“Their sterling performance has helped them gain considerable influence within the state leadership.”
However, the source said, the outcome of the election has left senior members concerned that their views may be overlooked in the new committee’s decision-making process.
“The changing of the old guard, and the rise of younger leaders such as Sim, Ramkarpal and Zairil has led to this quibble.”
The source was referring to recent criticism Zairil received from two Penang DAP assemblymen over comments he made in response to a complaint by party chairman and Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng regarding a shortfall in allocations received by his constituency.
Lim had claimed that part of the RM5.6 million allocation meant for his constituency had been “hijacked” for use in the neighbouring opposition-held constituency of Tasek Gelugor.
Zairil, a Penang executive councillor, explained that RM1.4 million had gone towards maintaining part of a federal trunk road connecting the two parliamentary constituencies that fell within Tasek Gelugor’s borders.
He said the funds have since been “returned” to Bagan.
However, state assemblymen K Kumaran (Bagan Dalam) and Chee Yee Keen (Bagan Jermal) took Zairil to task over his response. They criticised him for calling the diversion of funds a “small matter”.
They also accused him of defending the public works department officer responsible for diverting the funds at Lim’s expense.
Zairil’s supporters and several Penang DAP grassroot members, however, defended his remarks.
Meanwhile, another DAP insider shrugged off the dispute, saying competition for positions and influence often leads to internal strife in any party.
He said such altercations would continue to surface as the question of who would succeed Chow Kon Yeow as Penang’s next chief minister remains an “open, undecided matter”.
Several other DAP leaders, who also spoke to FMT on condition of anonymity, called for their colleagues to preserve party unity.
“The focus should be on strengthening DAP’s position in Penang and preparing for the next elections, not infighting,” one leader said.
Others said the infighting could hinder the party’s preparations for the next general and state elections. They said the party will need to present a united front if it hopes to retain its dominance in Penang.
“Whether this is a one-off is not certain. But if this continues, Penang DAP’s position will definitely take a beating at the polls,” one leader said.