BUKIT Mertajam MP Steven Sim Chee Keong (picture) was appointed as the new Penang DAP chairman for the 2024/2027 term, replacing Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow who had led the state chapter for 25 years.

Sim, who won the second highest vote in the election that concluded yesterday, will be joined by Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh who won the highest vote as deputy chairman.

State exco Zairil Khir Johari retained his position as vice chairman, while former state exco Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin was appointed as the new vice chairman of Penang DAP. 

Meanwhile, Tanjong MP Lim Hui Ying remains the state secretary of DAP and H’ng Mooi Lye was appointed as the assistant state secretary. The positions of state treasurer and assistant state treasurer were filled by Teh Lai Heng and Lay Hock Peng, respectively.

The position of state organising secretary is held by Phee Boon Chee, while the positions of state publicity secretary and state political education director are held by Woo Sze Zeng and Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, respectively.

The new state committee election was overseen by the assistant national political education director and Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi. 

Earlier, 1,452 delegates cast their votes to elect the state committee for the party in Penang for the 2024/2027 term.

The Sim-Lim pairing was recommended by party secretary general Anthony Loke Siew Fook, combining Sim (chairman) and Deputy Finance Minister Lim as state secretary, as a way to “calm” the party’s infighting.

Chow on Sept 4 decided to stay out of the state party election despite being notified in a letter from DAP’s headquarters on Aug 27 that he had been nominated. 

However, the Batu Kawan MP will remain one of the national DAP vice chairmen and will serve as chief minister until the end of his current term.

Sim called on those elected in this election to form a unity team so they could strengthen the party’s ranks for the benefit of the people and the party.

“This elected committee is committed to continuing the party’s struggle, as supported by previous leaders, and we will fully support the state government led by Chow Kon Yeow and the federal government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” he told reporters after being appointed.

Ramkarpal also said he would work for the party and continue the mandate given to him as best as possible.

“I am surprised by the support given to me, which is very valuable. So, I will work hard for those who have chosen me,” he said. 

Among the biggest casualties of the election are Deputy Chief Minister Jagdeep Singh Deo and state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai.

Other state assemblymen who did not make the cut include Heng Lee Lee (Berapit), Joseph Ng (Air Itam) K Kumaran (Bagan Dalam) and Ong Ah Teong (Batu Lanchang). — TMR