KIT SIANG’S DAUGHTER HUI YING PUTS HIS WELL-BEING FIRST: ‘SHE WAS NOMINATED TO CONTEST IN GE14 BUT SHE CHOSE TO DO ADMIN DUTIES’

GEORGE TOWN – Senior DAP members were reluctant to say “aye” to a proposal to field party adviser Lim Kit Siang’s daughter, Lim Hui Ying, for the Tanjong parliamentary seat, which he once held.

According to a party insider, fearful of the negative impact a “Lim dynasty” might recur, the debate on who should contest the seat went on until midnight.

He said he did not know who had nominated the party supremo’s daughter, but the Tanjong seat’s candidate was the last to be finalised – and Hui Ying herself was reluctant to stand.

“Some of us were fearful of the public seeing the father, son and daughter contesting.

 “The term ‘Lim dynasty’ has been used before,” the source said.

Another party insider, however, said he didn’t see anything wrong with Kit Siang, Guan Eng (DAP secretary-general) and Hui Ying (Penang DAP secretary) contesting.

“What is wrong with wanting to see your children excel? I’d like to see my children enter politics too except that they don’t want to,” he said, adding that Hui Ying never wanted to contest even in previous general elections.

When approached yesterday, Hui Ying only smiled but declined to be interviewed.

State DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who was ultimately chosen to contest Tanjong, confirmed that Hui Ying was nominated “but she was among about 50 names and the committee considered every one of them”.

Five in the state committee were responsible for choosing the candidates: Chow, deputy chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo, vice-chairmen Dr P. Ramasamy and Zairil Khir Johari, and Hui Ying.

Chow said Hui Ying preferred to focus on her work as the state DAP campaign director.

“She’s found her niche in coordinating the logistics and items nee­ded for campaigning; she enjoys doing all that. She definitely did not want to contest.”

Chow, who was Tanjong MP from 1999 to 2013, said he declined to contest the seat in the last general election because his state exco portfolio – Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation – took up most of his time.

“But Guan Eng directed me to contest Tanjong again. This time, there are other considerations, so I accepted it,” he said.

We’re ready: The candidates for GE14 raising their hands in union after the announcement ceremony at the Evergreen Laurel Hotel in George Town.

Penang DAP announced its candidates in 26 state and parliamentary seats.

Six incumbents were dropped while three opted not to contest.

There were eight new faces.

On former Johor DAP chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau’s comment that party leaders charged in court should step down, Chow said the party’s committees at the national and state levels had made a policy decision that Guan Eng’s position would not be affected by his corruption trial until it was over.

Chow is also DAP national vice-chairman.

On DAP member Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s remark that the party would never secure strong Malay support, Chow said Zaid had a history of voicing out his opinions even when he was in Umno and PKR.

“That is his special personality. We hear his opinion, and that’s all,” he added.

On Tan Seng Giaw being dropped as a candidate for Kepong, Chow pointed out that the veteran MP had served eight terms.

“There is a reason why parties change candidates. Even MPs who served one or two terms have been changed or dropped.

“In the various party elections, he was not re-elected to positions not only at the national level but state too. So the national committee has its rationale.

“In Penang, you see so many more changes to the candidate list. This is a natural process in any election,” he added.

– ANN