New blood for Penang DAP

GEORGE TOWN: Five exco members were dropped, and seven new faces made the cut as Penang DAP opted for new blood in the coming state polls.

The five dropped were deputy chief minister II Dr P. Ramasamy, Chong Eng, Phee Boon Poh, Yeoh Soon Hin and Soon Lip Chee. Also dropped were Satees Muniandy and Chris Lee, who is said to be ill.

Phee was replaced by his daughter Syn Tze, who is 38, in Sungai Puyu, while Yeoh was made the Penang Port Commission chairman.

Besides Syn Tze, the other six newbies are Connie Tan Hooi Peng, 33 (Sri Delima), Wong Yuee Harng, 35 (Pengkalan Kota), Chee Yeeh Keen (Bagan Jermal) and Joshua Woo Sze Zeng (Pulau Tikus) both 41, Kumaran Krishnan, 45 (Bagan Dalam) and Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo, 61 (Perai).

The seven newbies represent 37% of the 19 seats the party will be contesting.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, who handed over the authorisation letters to the candidates, said the party would cease to be relevant if it did not undergo a renewal process.

“After 15 years of being in power in Penang, some of the three-term assemblymen have to make way for new faces.

“We know we won all the seats we contested in the state since 2008 and I am confident we will win all 19 seats again this time,” he said after announcing the candidates for Penang and Kedah.

Chow Kon Yeow has again been named as the chief ministerial candidate if the unity pact wins.

Sundarajoo, the former Ecoworld Development Group Bhd deputy chief executive officer, will replace Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P Ramasamy in the Perai seat.

Chee was a Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP) councillor, while Tan was a Penang Island City Council (MBPP) councillor.

Wong, who has been an MBPP councillor since 2016, will be replacing incumbent Daniel Gooi Si Zen, who is moving to Padang Lalang.

The engineering graduate from the UK stated that he would continue Gooi’s good work.

Gooi, 36, is set to replace DAP Wanita leader Chong Eng.

Woo, 41, a special officer to caretaker state infrastructure and transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari, will replace Chris Lee. Businessman Kumaran, 45, will replace Satees.

Former Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai, 50, is making a comeback and will stand in Paya Terubong, replacing Yeoh.

The incumbents retained are Chow (Padang Kota), Lim Guan Eng (Air Putih), Joseph Ng (Air Itam), Zairil (Tanjung Bungah), Teh Lai Heng (Komtar), Jagdeep Singh Deo (Datuk Keramat), Lim Siew Khim (Sungai Pinang), Ong Ah Teong (Batu Lancang), Heng Lee Lee (Berapit) and Jason H’ng Mooi Lye (Jawi).

During the event, Loke also announced that two Kedah DAP incumbent assemblymen will defend their constituencies in the state polls.

Kedah DAP chairman Tan Kok Yew will defend Derga while Teh Swee Leong will defend Kota Darul Aman.