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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