Lim Kit Siang

Surprised to be topping party polls

Bridget Welsh asked me last night whether I had ever topped party polls before. Not that I could recollect.

Was actually surprised that I came in first in the DAP’s triennial Central Executive Committee (CEC) election at the DAP Congress in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

I had expected to be somewhere down the list, not as bad as in the previous CEC election in 2004, but not leading it.

As Party Secretary-General and later Party Chairman, I had at times to take unpopular decisions in the interests of the party as the challenge as party leader was not to win a popularity contest but to do what was right for the party and the political struggle for a Malaysian Malaysia, even it meant stepping on toes in the party.

For that reason, I had expected to be trailing in party polls and not be topping them.

I had not been focussing very much on the likely outcome of the CEC polls yesterday and was pleasantly surprised that I had topped the list. This must be the result of stepping less on party toes as I am no more actively involved in the day-to-day executive duties of the party in the past four years when I was no more party secretary-general or chairman.

I thank all party delegates for the support. It definitely makes it more difficult to think of a retirement mode.

The newly-elected DAP CEC will meet shortly this morning before resumption of the party congress to elect the new party leadership as well as to co-opt new CEC members.

There is likely to be a “surprise” announcement at the resumption of the CEC congress.

The DAP CEC election results are in the press today, as in the following Star report:

Lim Kit Siang – 624

Lim Guan Eng – 620

Tan Kok Wai – 571

Fong Kui Lun – 504

M. Kula – 500

Teresa Kok – 495

Dr Tan Seng Giaw – 492

Chong Chieng Jen – 476

Karpal Singh – 471

Ngeh Koo Ham – 455

Anthony Loke Siew Fook – 452

Ahmad Ton – 448

Tony Pua – 446

Chong Eng – 434

Teng Chang Khim – 417

Ngah Kor Ming – 417

Chow Kon Yeow – 410

P. Ramasamy – 340

Boo Cheng Hau – 332

Gobind Singh Deo – 305

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