GEORGE TOWN: The Mid-Autumn Festival will be a colourful affair on Sept 17. But as far as Penang is concerned, all eyes will be on the state DAP election that weekend.

While parents will be taking out their kids for a casual stroll, the atmosphere at the Spice Arena on Sept 22 is expected to be electrifying as members vote for a new state chairman to lead the party.

With incumbent Chow Kon Yeow out of the race, the contest for the state’s top DAP post has evolved into a three-way battle between a minister, a deputy minister and a state executive council member.

This is not the first time that Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong, Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, and Penang tourism and creative economy committee member Wong Hon Wai have found themselves in the spotlight.Last year, they were considered as potential “chief ministers-in-waiting” to replace Chow before the dissolution of the state legislative assembly.

All of them come from the same influential faction, which is poised to have a significant impact in the upcoming state party elections.

Sim, 42, is a formidable contender despite his relatively young age for a politician, having held key positions in the party as the national organising secretary and Penang DAP vice-chairman.

A graduate of Universiti Malaya with a degree in Computer Science, Sim was a Seberang Prai municipal councillor from 2011 to 2013.

In 2018, he was appointed deputy youth and sports minister by the then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan-led government in 2020, Sim returned to Penang, where he played a crucial role in leading communications and public empowerment efforts for the Penang Lawan Covid-19 campaign.The initiative was critical in combating misinformation and keeping the public informed about the novel coronavirus. The campaign’s website became an essential resource, providing updates from the Penang state government, contact information for assistance and the latest Covid-19 statistics.

Lim, 61, is a well-established figure in the party and commands a lot of respect. As the younger sister of national DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng, she has played an integral role in the state leadership, shaping the party’s strategies since 2001.

Among her notable roles include being the election campaign director, where she expertly coordinated the team, deployed resources and mobilised party machinery during the election campaigns.

Currently the party’s state secretary, her strong grassroots support is evidenced by her impressive performance in state party elections over the years, underscoring her deep-rooted connection with the party’s base.

Wong, 51, has come full circle in his political journey, having been a key figure in the pioneering Pakatan Rakyat (now Pakatan Harapan) state government that first came to power in 2008.

Initially, he served as the Penang town and country planning, housing and arts committee chairman from 2008 to 2013.

From 2013 to 2018, Wong held the position of Penang Backbenchers Club chairman after winning the Air Itam state seat for a second time before transitioning to the role of political secretary to Guan Eng, who was then the Penang chief minister.

His career continued to progress as he served as the Bukit Bendera MP from 2018 to 2022.

In the 2023 state election, Wong won the Paya Terubong state seat and was subsequently appointed as the state tourism and creative economy committee chairman.

His extensive experience across various roles and involvement in both state and federal capacities highlight his deep-rooted connection to the party and its governance.

While Sim, Hui Ying and Wong are widely expected to secure a place on the 15-member state committee, the “real” contest lies in the subsequent round of voting, where the elected committee members will choose among themselves who will fill key leadership roles, leading to an outcome that could herald the emergence of the potential chief minister-in-waiting.

A party insider, who requested anonymity, suggested that Sim might have a slight advantage due to his age and extensive government experience.

“He brings a blend of youthful energy and substantial political acumen, which could be particularly appealing in the current political climate.

“His experience at the national level, including his tenure in the Youth and Sports Ministry and Human Resources Ministry, is a big plus for him,” he said.

Another senior party leader hinted that Wong could emerge as the dark horse in the competition.“Within the party circles at the grassroots level, Sim is more suited at the federal level, where he has already established a strong presence and effectively represented the party’s interests and policies,” he said.> FROM PREVIOUS PAGE (jump to p13)“His continued tenure in the federal arena could be seen as crucial for maintaining the party’s voice and influence on a national scale.

“As for Hui Ying, she is perceived as relatively new for such a high-profile role. Talk is that Guan Eng could be assigned an advisory role if Hui Ying is to become the first female Penang chief minister.

“Guan Eng’s extensive experience in attracting investors and managing the state administration could prove invaluable in this scenario.

“Additionally, his role on the DAP candidate selection committee underscores his influence, and commands respect among the assemblymen,” the senior party leader added.

Having said all that, the party veteran picked Wong to emerge on top as he is more seasoned, with a deep understanding of state governance.

“Wong’s extensive experience and seniority among DAP assemblymen is his advantage.

“His background and expertise could provide the stability and leadership necessary for navigating the complexities of state governance, making him a compelling option in the current scenario.

“Do not forget, he was Guan Eng’s political secretary at one point,” said the leader.

While the battle for the state chairman post shaping up to be anything but intriguing, Penang DAP committee member Datuk Seri Phee Boon Poh has called on party members to close ranks once the election concludes, emphasising that solidarity is essential for the party’s future.

“I would like to remind all members that the party’s stability and unity come first,” he said.

Penang boasts 296 DAP branches, including 117 on the mainland. Each branch is entitled to send seven delegates to the convention: the chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer, publicity secretary, and the women’s affairs secretary.

In addition to these branch delegates, all MPs, state assemblymen and incumbent state committee members are also eligible to participate as delegates at the state convention.

By convention, the chairman of the party with the most seats will lead the state government, and since Pakatan came to power in 2008, DAP has won the most state seats in Penang.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/09/09/three-way-tussle-for-top-post