Row brewing in DAP

By LOONG MENG YEE, PAUL CHOO and CHRISTINA TAN

KLANG

There is disagreement between two DAP top guns – secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Selangor opposition chief Teng Chang Khim – over the choice of candidate for the Kota Alam Shah state seat.

At the centre of the furore is Lim Lip Suan, 35, Teng's political secretary, declared the “acting candidate” for the seat several days ago following claims that Guan Eng was dragging his feet over the candidacy.

Banners are cropping up in Kuala Lumpur as incumbent Pandan MP Datuk Ong Tee Keat of the MCA and incumbent Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun (below) of the DAP extend their Chinese New Year wishes to their constituents.

poster war begins

Lip Suan’s branch in Kota Alam Shah held a press conference on Sunday, announcing him as the candidate for the constituency.

The branch is believed to have acted in defiance of a supposed move by Guan Eng to have senior member Peter Tan contest the seat.

Tan used to be a senior aide to Teng, but they had a falling out and he was later seen siding with Guan Eng. Teng has denied any involvement in the branch's decision.

“This branch is made up of mainly young professionals. They are not puppets. They feel Lip Suan has better qualifications to be a candidate.

“And I agree with them,” he said.
Teng said candidates for the elections must be of quality, with at least secondary school education.
When contacted, Lip Suan, who has a Diploma in Marketing, said the branch felt that Tan was not a suitable candidate as he only had up to Year Five education.

Tan, 47, a former tow-truck business owner, said he realised his limited education was being used as political ammunition against him.
“My service record since 1999 speaks for itself,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kota Alam Shah DAP branch deputy chairman Go Chin Ooi said that the branch had conveyed its wish to state chairman Ean Yong Hian Wah.

When contacted, Ean Yong said the state DAP had three names for Kota Alam Shah but the candidate had yet to be finalised. The seat is held by Gerakan’s Ching Su Chen.

In Petaling Jaya, Guan Eng declined to elaborate but said it was a trivial issue.