JOHOR BARU, Jan 5 — Kluang member of parliament Liew Chin Tong today confirmed that he was prepared to offer himself as the new Johor DAP chairman.
He said this would, however, depend on whether the Johor DAP delegates would choose him to be in the state committee during the state party elections on Jan 12.
“If am voted as one of the 15 Johor DAP committee members, I am willing to offer myself as the state DAP chairman,” he said in a statement, here.
Liew, who is also the party’s Political Education director, said if he was accepted as the new Johor DAP chairman, he would also strive to strengthen the party and Pakatan Rakyat in this Barisan Nasional stronghold.
Currently, the Johor DAP chief is Dr Boo Cheng Hau, the Skudai assemblyman who has held the two posts for two terms. He, however, has so far not stated whether he would be seeking re-election this Jan 12.
Liew said for some months now, many DAP and Pakatan Rakyat members and supporters had been encouraging him to go for the Johor DAP top post.
He said the upcoming Johor DAP elections should be focusing on ideas and its aspirations and future direction.
According to him, the new Johor DAP leadership would be facing three main tasks, including strengthening public support for the party and widening support for DAP among Malay, Indian, young and women voters.
The third task will be increasing cooperation with PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), not only at the national level but also at the state and parliamentary levels.
Meanwhile, Dr Boo, when contacted, declined to comment on Liew’s offer to be the new Johor DAP chief.
Recently, two senior Johor DAP leaders, former Senai assemblyman Ong Kow Meng and former Bentayan assemblyman Gwee Tong Hiang openly urged Dr Boo to step down as Johor DAP chairman.
Ong, who is also the state DAP vice-chairman, said it was time for Johor DAP be led by new leaders of better calibre like Liew and Kulai MP, Teo Nie Ching. — Bernama
