GEORGE TOWN: A total of 32 candidates will contest in the Penang DAP state elections on Sept 22. From these, the top 15 with the highest votes will be elected to the state committee.
Notable candidates include state Human Resources Minister Steven Sim and Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, who is expected to take over the chairmanship from Chow Kon Yeow, after Chow declined a nomination. Despite stepping down as state DAP chairman, Chow will continue as Chief Minister until the end of his term, according to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.
State Tourism and Creative Economy chairman Wong Hon Wai is also a contender to succeed Chow. By tradition, the state DAP chairman is typically appointed as Chief Minister if the ruling coalition retains power in the next general election.
Out of 19 DAP assemblymen in the state, five will not be contesting, including Chow, national DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng, Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Wong Yuee Harng, Seri Delima assemblyman Tan Hooi Peng, and Bagan Jermal assemblyman Chee Yeeh Keen.
The remaining 14 assemblymen contesting are Sungai Puyu's Phee Syn Tze, K. Kumaran (Bagan Dalam), Heng Lee Lee (Berapit), Gooi Zi Sen (Padang Lalang), Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo (Prai), H'ng Mooi Lye (Jawi), Zairil Khir Johari (Tanjung Bungah), Woo Sze Zeng (Pulau Tikus), Teh Lai Heng (Komtar), Jagdeep Singh Deo (Datuk Keramat), Lim Siew Khim (Sungai Pinang), Ong Ah Teong (Batu Lanchang), Joseph Ng Soon Siang (Air Itam), and Wong Hon Wai.
Among the seven DAP MPs in Penang, three will not be contesting: Chow, Lim Guan Eng, and Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid. Contesting MPs include Steven Sim, Lim Hui Ying, Jelutong MP RSN Rayer, and Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh.
Family members contesting include brothers Ramkarpal and Jagdeep Singh Deo, and Phee Syn Tze alongside her uncle, Phee Boon Chee.
Former elected representatives Datuk Seri Chong Eng, Datuk Soon Lip Chee, and Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin are also among the candidates.
The Penang DAP State Ordinary Convention, themed "Staying Hopeful, Strengthening Unity," will be held on Sept 22 at Setia Spice Arena, Bayan Baru, officiated by Anthony Loke. The new state committee for the 2024–2027 term will be elected from among the 32 candidates.