Puchong MP succeeds Tony Pua who was dumped by grassroots members

PETALING JAYA: Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo is the new Selangor DAP chairman after the state party elections were held here.

The 45-year-old Puchong MP succeeds Tony Pua, who did not make it into the top 15 in the state committee during the polls.

Gobind will be assisted by Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, who was appointed deputy chairman. Gobind secured 393 votes and was placed ninth from a total of 40 contestants.

Pua, who is Damansara MP, managed to secure only 292 votes, which placed him in 19th place, thus eliminating him from the state committee list. Only the top 15 will sit in the committee.

Pua had earlier said he would be stepping down as chairman.

Later, he said he was disappointed over the loss as he only said he did not want to be state chairman.

“I didn’t say I didn’t want to be in the committee,” he added.

Gobind thanked the party members for their support, saying that winning or losing was part of the election process.

“I thank the previous committee led by Pua. We must continue working for the rakyat,” he said.

State executive councillor Ng Sze Han received the highest number of votes with 491, followed by Tiew Way Keng with 463.

The others in the 15-member committee are Ronnie Liu, Ng Suee Lim, V. Ganabatirau, Lau Weng San, Duncan Lee, Lee Fu Haw, Bryan Lai, Tee Boon Hock, Teng Chang Khim, Ong Kian Ming and Lee Kee Hiong.

Observers said the results showed that grassroots members had abandoned some party leaders whom they believed did not represent their interests.

According to a party insider who declined to be named, one of the reasons of Pua’s defeat was because he was said to be detached from the grassroots members.

“DAP has always held events at the grassroots level for ordinary members and party leaders to mingle.

“But none of these were held in Selangor when Pua was state chairman,” said the source, who is an elected representative.