Appreciation Dinner For Kit Siang Turns Into Political Dispute Ahead Of Party Polls

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A dinner to honour DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang has turned into a political issue implicating his son, DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng, as speculations emerge that the event is instead a "warm-up" for upcoming party polls.
ADSThe Penang DAP state committee is organising the dinner to show appreciation to Kit Siang for his contributions to the party, state, and nation.
However, Chinese dailies reported that speculation is rife that the dinner is being used as a "momentum-building" event for the DAP Central Executive Committee (CEC) election instead.
The dinner, scheduled for Feb 15 at Han Chiang High School Hall, Penang, will take place a month before the polls.
State DAP secretary Lim Hui Ying, who is also Kit Siang's daughter denied the claim, saying that it has nothing to do with the March CEC election.
Hui Ying explained that the previous state committee had originally organised the dinner after Kit Siang received the Darjah Utama Pangkuan Negeri award, last July, Sin Chew Daily reported yesterday.
However, due to venue issues, the dinner was postponed, she said.
She added that dinner was also meant to celebrate Kit Siang's birthday, which falls on Feb 20.
Guan Eng has also denied that he had anything to do with dinner.
"I am not the organiser of this event. It has nothing to do with me. You have to ask the state committee about this matter," he was quoted as saying by China Press.
Sabotage attempts aim at Guan Eng
Meanwhile, DAP Batu Lancang state assemblyperson Ong Ah Teong condemned “malicious individuals” for trying to link the event to Guan Eng and falsely claiming that it is a platform to canvass support ahead of the CEC polls.
ADSAccording to Kwong Wah Daily, Ong said the rumours are “baseless” and “malicious slander” against Guan Eng.
"Guan Eng is not a member of the Penang DAP state committee. Any arrangements involving the state DAP, including birthday or appreciation dinners, are not decisions he can make.
"These accusations clearly aim to further tarnish Guan Eng’s reputation by fabricating baseless claims.
“The media is welcome to ask state DAP chairperson Steven Sim for further details. Why direct accusations at Guan Eng, who is not part of the state committee?
“The dinner is neither organised by Guan Eng nor meant to strategise for the March party election,” said Ong.
Sim, who is also Human Resources Minister, was elected as state DAP chief on Sept 22 last year.
Following the state DAP polls, some within the party reportedly believed that Sim had departed from Guan Eng’s influence, weakening the latter’s sway in the northern state.
Some Chinese-language newspapers even speculated that Guan Eng’s faction suffered a near-total defeat in this party election.
However, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke had dismissed such notions, saying Guan Eng's influence and support within Penang DAP are undeniable. - Mkini

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