This sentiment was underscored by the poor performance of outgoing DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng, who ranked 26th in the party’s 30-member central executive committee (CEC).
The outcome is said to reflect a push by younger leaders to transform the party, previously known for its “street fighting” political style.
Party insiders suggest that Guan Eng’s appointment as advisor was a respectful way to ease him out of the chairman’s role and also honours his father Kit Siang’s lifelong dedication and sacrifices to building the party.
“The move to make sure Guan Eng does not become the chairman went according to plan. They did not want him voted out to save his face.
“Coming in at No 26 is enough to show the DAP wants a new and less arrogant leadership style,” said one senior leader.
He attributed Guan Eng’s poor showing to his open attack on Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow, which many perceived as an unnecessary use of strong-arm tactics.
No longer the party’s chairman, Guan Eng will not be in the five-man committee that selects electoral candidates and negotiates with component parties for seats. That role now goes to his successor, Gobind Singh Deo.
Two other members of that high-powered committee will be secretary-general Loke Siew Fook and deputy chairman Nga Kor Ming, who retained their positions for another three-year term.
Another senior party leader said there is also a likelihood that Guan Eng will be asked to stand down in the next general election (GE16), due by February 2028, which would likely end his political career.
“This is to avoid fielding him, with pending court actions not expected to be resolved before GE16. And this is what DAP’s partners PKR and Umno prefer,” he said.
Guan Eng is currently Bagan MP and assemblyman for Air Puteh in Penang.
However, he said there is also a remote possibility of the party offering him a parliamentary seat for one last term as a show of respect for the sacrifices Kit Siang and he have made for the party.
A new DAP emerging?
With sister Hui Ying also voted out, the new CEC, now free of the Lim family’s influence, is primed to steer DAP in an entirely different direction, one which could see it becoming more amicable and acceptable, especially to the Malays.
Former Klang MP Charles Santiago said a clear mandate has been given to Loke, Gobind and Nga to show Malaysians that the DAP is truly a multi-racial party which will start listening to the people on the ground.
“Without Guan Eng in the mainstream, Loke can focus on his executive leaders without any interference. This is the best opportunity for DAP to project itself as a multi-racial party.
“People say this may make DAP weaker in terms of negotiating with Umno and PKR, but the party has already been in the federal government twice and state governments many times and they have been handling this.
“The idea is not to be arrogant as that style of leadership is not going to work,” he told FMT.
Santiago said the new team has huge challenges ahead as they have to win back the support of a large number of Indian voters who have lost faith in the party.
They must also contend with the loss of some Chinese support and an increasing number of Malay voters who perceive the party to be a Chinese party.
“The election of four Indians and two Malay members into the CEC may not appear convincing but the new faces give much hope. I believe a new DAP is emerging,” he added.