Guan Eng Turns To Old Guards As Loke Nga Seek To Force Him Out

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With the DAP election in March fast approaching, it appears that it has become increasingly challenging for Lim Guan Eng, following a Chinese New Year dinner between two party heavyweights, Anthony Loke and Nga Kor Ming.
This meeting not only reaffirmed the solid alliance between the Loke-Nga factions but also sent a strong signal to Guan Eng, seemingly attempting to pressure him into stepping aside.
Party insiders told Malaysiakini that with Loke and Nga joining forces, Guan Eng risks losing even his position on the Central Executive Committee (CEC) if he refuses to relinquish the party chairpersonship.
It is understood that if Guan Eng is willing to renounce his post as national chairperson, the Loke-Nga camp may still include him in their "cai dan" (voting guide), allowing him to secure a place on the CEC.
However, should Guan Eng insist on contesting the chairpersonship, he may face an uphill battle. A defeat in the first round of the CEC election would be a significant blow to the former secretary-general's standing.
Faced with this looming crisis, Guan Eng has been actively attending various events in a bid to garner support from party delegates. A party insider has even quipped that he has become “the hardest-working person in Malaysia”.
However, based on the outcome of the Penang DAP election last September, Guan Eng's influence in the northern state has waned considerably, with his support rate now estimated at only 30-40 percent.
In Selangor, which boasts a large number of party branches, he may still command a similar level of backing, but it is unlikely to be sufficient to turn the tide in his favour.

Recognising the gravity of the situation, the Lim family has been meeting with party veterans such as Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai and Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun in an attempt to persuade them to contest for another term, thereby helping to stabilise Guan Eng’s position.
Guan Eng is the son of Lim Kit Siang, the strongman who once led the DAP for decades. His sister Hui Ying is the Penang DAP secretary and Deputy Finance Minister.
DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang and DAP national chairperson Lim Guan EngAccording to sources, both Tan (68) and Fong (79) were not particularly keen on contesting. Following the meeting with the Lim family, other senior leaders have also approached them privately, urging them not to stand. This shows that the party’s internal power struggle has reached an intense stage.
ADSDuring the last party election in 2022, Fong and Tan secured the sixth and 11th highest votes, respectively. If they contest again this time, their influence could be instrumental in helping Guan Eng retain his chairpersonship.
The iconic 2022 photo
DAP's CEC election follows a two-tier process where the delegates first elect 30 members into the CEC, who then internally select the office-bearers, including the secretary-general, the highest post in DAP, comparable with the president’s post in other parties.
Therefore, any leader aspiring to a top position must ensure both themselves and their allies secure enough votes in the first round to stand a chance in the final election.
Looking back at the 2022 party election, Loke and Nga reached an agreement just days before voting day.
After internal negotiations, Kit Siang unexpectedly announced his retirement during the party congress on March 20, 2022, while Loke emerged as a powerful secretary-general, Nga secured the role of DAP parliamentary leader, becoming the party’s second-most influential figure.
While Guan Eng assumed the chairperson role as planned, the combined strength of Loke and Nga’s factions gradually eroded his influence.
At the last election, the now-iconic photo of Loke and Nga together was only released four days before the polls, indicating that negotiations had dragged on until the last moment.
This time, with a month to go before the elections, Nga has already shared a picture of their meeting, reflecting three years of successful cooperation and increased mutual trust between the two leaders.
Compared to the last party polls, Loke has maintained a relatively low profile this time, avoiding any explicit statements on his stance. However, an interview he gave to Sin Chew Daily before Chinese New Year was particularly intriguing.
Loke stated that serving as secretary-general was the pinnacle of his political career, and once he completes his three-term limit as stipulated by the party constitution, he will not seek another party position or remain in office until the age of 80.
Nonetheless, he emphasised that this was merely his personal political philosophy and was not directed at anyone in particular.
Campaign using party organ?
While Loke has deliberately remained low profile on the party elections this time, insiders believe that he has already made the necessary preparations and is simply waiting for the right moment to act.
In contrast to Loke’s restraint, DAP organ The Rocket has actively promoted the Loke-Nga CNY meeting, even quoting Nga’s Facebook post referring to a “new era.” This move is widely interpreted as an effort to build momentum for their alliance.
The housing and local government minister’s post sparked an outpouring of support, with several key DAP leaders - including Teo Nie Ching, Kelvin Yii, Jenny Choy, Kerk Chee Yee and Angeline Koo - leaving comments and echoing the sentiment with the hashtag #StrongerTogether.
This coordinated effort appears to be aimed at exerting indirect pressure on Guan Eng, creating an atmosphere that could compel him to step aside and avoid a direct confrontation.
However, some internal observers caution that if the ruling faction overplays its hand, or if party machinery is used to suppress the Lims, it could backfire.
They point to the mistakes Lim’s camp made during the Penang party polls, where aggressive attacks against Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow ultimately cost them their long-held dominance in the state.
With just a month to go before the party election on March 16, nominees have until Feb 21 to confirm their candidacy. The full list of candidates is expected to be announced by the end of February or early March, at which point the election dynamics will become clearer. - Mkini

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