GEORGE TOWN: Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong is well on his way to succeed Chow Kon Yeow as the next Chief Minister should the unity government return to power in the 16th general election.
Analysts see Sim's appointment to helm Penang DAP in yesterday's party elections as the eventual leadership transition plan.
According to Universiti Sains Malaysia's Professor Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, Sim's role is to unite all camps within the party to ensure a smooth transition of leadership when the time comes.
"From what I see, this is an eventual leadership transition plan, and Sim may have to contest a state seat as well in the next polls.
"Sim has proven himself well as a member of parliament and minister.
"His task now is to consolidate the party to ensure those who lost are not sidelined. It is not the winner wins everything and the loser loses everything," he told the New Straits Times.
In yesterday's state party elections, Sim was appointed as the new state DAP chairman for the 2024-2027 term, replacing Chow.
He polled 1,237 votes, slightly behind Bukit Gelugor member of parliament Ramkarpal Singh Deo with 1,247 votes.
Ramkarpal, who polled the highest vote, was appointed as the deputy chairman.
Chow, who led the state DAP for the past 25 years, had decided to stay out of the state party polls.
https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2024/09/1109208/steven-sim-new-pena...
Lim Hui Ying, national chairman Lim Guan Eng's sister, came in 12th place and retained her position as state secretary.
Both Sim and Hui Ying were tipped to take over from Chow.
Sivamurugan said, in DAP's case, the highest vote secured does not mean that one would become the chairman.
This, he said, was because the process in the party was different.
"The elected state CEC (central executive committee) decides the office bearers.
"In 2022, during the DAP CEC national party elections, Gobind Singh Deo secured the highest votes followed by Chow and Anthony Loke (secretary-general). However, Gobind was not elected the national chairman then," he added.
Sivamurugan said the outcome of yesterday's state DAP elections showed that many who won still belonged to Guan Eng's camp.
"Interestingly some assemblymen who contested did not make the cut.
"It is a mixture of various groups but more surprising is that assemblymen and state executive council members lost.
"When the winner seems to come from different teams or camps, it is the role of those who are selected to make sure the party stays intact post-Chow," he said.
Among the biggest casualties in yesterday's state party polls were Deputy Chief Minister Jagdeep Singh Deo and state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai.
Other state assemblymen who did not make the cut included Heng Lee Lee (Berapit), Joseph Ng (Air Itam) K. Kumaran (Bagan Dalam), and Ong Ah Teong (Batu Lanchang).
Meanwhile, Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Dr Oh Ei Sun told the NST that Sim would likely be groomed to eventually take over the Chief Ministership as part of a generational leadership shift in Penang DAP.
"He is certainly more charismatic than either Chow or Hui Ying," he said.
Oh said it appeared that Hui Ying's showing in yesterday's state party polls might be a sign of a protest vote against the Lim dynasty.
"It would appear so, although I am not sure if Penang DAP grassroots are enamoured with the equally uncolourful Chow either," he added.
He said it was also very difficult to tell if yesterday's state party polls results showed there was a division, where a number of top vote-getters were elected.