The announcement of Lim Hui Ying as DAP's candidate for the Tanjong parliamentary seat has triggered discontent in the party's grassroots.
They are questioning why yet another member of the Lim family has been elevated to political prominence.
Party insiders believe that placing Hui Ying, 59, — who is DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng's sister and party stalwart Lim Kit Siang's daughter — as a candidate would only leave the party vulnerable to further accusations of nepotism.
One insider told the New Straits Times that it would appear as if the party was bereft of new candidates outside the Lim family.
"This is wrong. It sends the wrong signal to the grassroots.
"There are many, many more capable candidates from the party who should have been fielded. Not from the family circle."
Hui Ying, 59, would contest Tanjong, which was formerly held by state DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who is also the chief minister .
Chow will be contesting the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat previously helmed by Kasthuri Patto.
Another DAP member said the party had attacked other parties for doing the same thing, and should by right, hold itself to a higher standard.
He also lamented the message that would be sent to neutral observers, which signalled that certain people only would be fast-tracked to political prominence.
He claimed that although Kit Siang had retired, he still wielded influence in the party. He said Guan Eng, after serving as secretary-general, had since assumed the chairmanship.
Gerakan vice-president Datuk Baljit Singh said such a move by other parties would have been criticised by DAP in the past.
"This kind of family-related candidates, if put forward by anyone else, would have seen DAP go to town on it.
"However, when they do it, it is okay and they seem to thrive on it. We used to have a father-and-son team, then husband-and-wife. And now, we have a brother-and-sister team thrown in," he said.