After Selangor Dap Loss Gobind S Resurgence Credited To Merit Legacy

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The party polls on Sunday was not the first time the newly-appointed chaiman, Gobind Singh Deo, had topped DAP’s central executive committee elections. He achieved the same in 2022.
PETALING JAYA: Gobind Singh Deo’s resurgence in DAP just months after failing to be elected to the Selangor chapter’s leadership has been attributed to a mix of merit and legacy by observers.
Three political analysts pointed out that last Sunday was not Gobind’s first time topping DAP’s central executive committee (CEC) elections, as he had also secured the top spot in the 2022 polls.
Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid said Gobind has demonstrated remarkable perseverance as a leader, and that his popularity at the national level seemed unaffected by his Selangor DAP loss.
“His performance in the Selangor DAP election can be regarded as a blip which he may or may not have mended.
“At 52, Gobind has reached the peak of leadership at the national level. He already has a DAP loyalist family background and accomplishments at the ministerial level to back his leadership claim,” he told FMT.
Gobind is currently the digital minister and also served as communications and multimedia minister in the previous Pakatan Harapan administration under Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Fauzi expected Gobind to grow in prominence, saying the newly-appointed DAP chairman has forged his own path and will no longer be seen as being in Lim Guan Eng’s corner.
Political scientist Wong Chin Huat of Sunway University agreed, saying the outcome of the CEC polls showed that Gobind was not “Guan Eng’s man”, but a leader accepted on his own merit across the various factions in DAP.
“There is no such thing as Lim’s shadow after (the results on Sunday). It is the end of an era in DAP,” he said.
P Sivamurugan, also of USM, said Gobind was preferred by all camps in DAP as he was perceived as following in his late father Karpal Singh’s legacy.
“Both are from different times but suit their respective eras,” he said. “Even in the last CEC elections, Gobind managed to secure the top spot, which is a reflection of his father’s legacy and his own experience within and out of the party.”
Gobind took over from Lim as DAP’s new national chairman last Sunday after topping the CEC elections with 2,785 votes.
The second son of former DAP chairman Karpal, Gobind surprised many after failing to be elected to the 15-member Selangor DAP leadership in November.
The former Selangor DAP chief finished in 16th place.
There was also speculation as to whether he would be affected by a campaign to oust Lim from the party’s CEC in this year’s polls. Gobind has been a loyal supporter of Lim for many years.
Wong said Gobind’s strong showing in the CEC polls was not surprising despite his Selangor DAP election defeat.
“This is because the state chapter’s delegates at the national congress may be different from those who voted in the state polls,” he added.
Fauzi said Gobind has always been a likeable personality while his family heritage gave him an additional advantage in both the DAP and the national political landscape.
“His father contributed immensely in the legal arena by representing the downtrodden from all races.
“Now catapulted into the role of digital minister, with artificial intelligence (AI) strongly featured in the list of national priorities, Gobind is undoubtedly one of the most visible faces as Malaysia surges through in its technological advancements.
“His continued prominence at the party level is helped by his affability and conspicuous public presence at the national level,” he added. - FMT

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