GEORGE TOWN: Chow Kon Yeow's revelation of a plot to oust him as the Penang Chief Minister is real.
Several party insiders, who spoke to the New Straits Times on condition of anonymity, said they were aware of such a plot, involving the party warlords.
"A big team is working on this (plot to oust Chow). And it is creating a friction within the party, slowly breaking the party.
"Party members know very well that this is a fight between Chow and his predecessor, Lim Guan Eng. The members are with Chow but the leaders are with Lim," he said.
The insider said the controversial sale of the Penang Development Corporation-owned land in Byram to UMECH Land Sdn Bhd was the first of many more attacks to come against Chow.
"The controversial land sale deal is purposely created to make him look bad.
"There will be many more such attacks in time to come," he added.
Chow has come under fire over the numerous controversies surrounding the land sale deal.
The PDC Board had decided to terminate the joint venture agreement with UMECH Land following calls to suspend the controversial sale of the PDC-owned land in Byram, in the Seberang Prai Selatan district.
Another insider said while Chow still had the support, he was showing himself to be a weak and incapable leader since the state election.
He said Chow's recent statement, asking his detractors to respect DAP's decision on his appointment, was a case in point.
During an event here over the weekend, Chow told the audience that there were people within and outside the party who were planning to remove him.
As such, he had called on his detractors to respect DAP's decision.
Today, Lim urged Chow Kon Yeow to furnish proof of any plot to topple him.
"Chow must wake up. He must show his strength now or risks being booted out.
Meanwhile, Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Dr Oh Ei Sun said another round of power struggle appeared to be simmering and surfacing in DAP, with Chow making allegations and Lim responding not so kindly, both being not in line with traditional party solidarity.
"It is certainly bubbling.
"DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook should do his best to take the matter astride and mediate or arbitrate between the two.
"The concerns reach far beyond the DAP membership, as the party enjoys close to unanimous support of non-Malay voters," he added.