Kit Siang S Birthday Dinner Night Of Celebration Subtle Undercurrents

---

 


Amidst the undercurrents of the impending party election and simmering tensions, last night’s dinner to celebrate DAP legend Lim Kit Siang’s 84th birthday was a display of unity and harmony.
Yet, at times, the push to project harmony seemed just a little too deliberate.
With the upcoming polls looming, talk of factionalism has been gaining traction, a notion that DAP leaders were keen to dispel.
Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, who had announced his withdrawal from the party’s central executive committee (CEC) race yesterday, downplayed such claims with a wry sense of humour.
“You (the reporters) keep talking about factions - two factions, three factions - I have no idea what you mean. Is this a street brawl or a martial arts duel?” he quipped, before breaking into hearty laughter.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke was equally dismissive, stating that Tan’s decision, along with that of Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, to sit out the party polls was a personal choice and would not impact others.
Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun“(Lim) Guan Eng is a senior leader. He doesn’t need others to help him. If he chooses to contest, he certainly has the ability to secure the members’ support,” Loke told reporters.
Guan Eng, the son of Kit Siang, currently serves as the party’s national chairperson.
A ‘family affair’ turned open event
As Loke put it, the dinner was meant to be a “family affair” for DAP with close friends, party leaders, and staff in attendance.
However, the press turned up, likely due to last Saturday’s incident in George Town, where a DAP member heckled Penang DAP chief Steven Sim at a tribute dinner for Kit Siang.
Instead of turning the press away, Loke welcomed them in.
DAP secretary-general Anthony LokeADS“The press were waiting outside. I said, ‘No, DAP is a very open party. When the press comes to our house, we welcome you and celebrate together,’” he said.
Toasting united DAP
Throughout the night, speeches from Loke, Kit Siang, and DAP parliamentary leader Nga Kor Ming all carried the same message: unity.
“DAP must prove that whether we are in the opposition or a part of the government, we stay united and committed to the ideals and vision of DAP,” Kit Siang said.
He also reminded Harapan to acknowledge public discontent and remain committed to reforms.
He expressed confidence in Loke’s leadership and urged him to carry forward the party’s unfinished work.
DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang with secretary-general Anthony LokeLoke echoed this sentiment, emphasising the importance of unity.
“Every member must treasure our comradeship,” he said, likening the dinner to a Chinese New Year reunion for DAP.
He even suggested that Kit Siang’s birthday, February 20, should be marked annually as a DAP reunion dinner.
“I want to remind the future secretary-general, whoever they are, that they must continue this tradition. I will take charge for the next few years, hopefully, but after that, whoever takes over must keep it going,” he said.
The toasts of the evening reflected this theme, with one dedicated to DAP’s continued strength and unity.
Meanwhile, Guan Eng praised Loke for securing increased funding for Chinese independent schools.
DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng (centre, left), Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying (first from left), and secretary-general Anthony LokeAll the leaders honoured Kit Siang for his dedication to the party and country.
Relaxed end to evening
Seated at the main table were Kit Siang, Guan Eng, Loke, Nga, deputy chairperson Gobind Singh Deo, organising secretary Steven Sim, publicity secretary Teo Nie Ching, vice-chairperson Chong Chieng Jen, Tan, Fong, and some of their family members.
Despite talk of political tensions and a faint lingering sense of awkwardness, the evening was largely lighthearted. Guests chatted, caught up, and took photos, while Loke, as the host, kept the mood buoyant with quips and lighthearted banter. Even last week’s Penang incident became fodder for jokes.
As the evening drew to a close, he stayed with the press until the very last guest departed, joking that he needed to make sure everyone left to prevent another incident.
With the DAP CEC election approaching on March 16, the evening was as much a tribute to Kit Siang’s legacy as it was a strategic display of unity. - Mkini

---