DAP announces new bureaus to broaden party’s scope

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 — DAP today announced a list of new committees and bureaus that have been tasked with empowering the party.

Among the new bureaus’ concerns are national social media, policy, non-governmental organisations and public complaints.

“These are some of the new bureaus that we (central executive committee, or CEC) decided on at our recent meeting on April 12.

“We have also decided to introduce a list of parliamentary spokesmen whereby each of the MPs will focus on their areas of expertise or areas of interest in Parliament.

“The reason why we have decided to introduce this is to get as many MPs as possible involved,” party secretary-general Anthony Loke told reporters during a press conference at the DAP headquarters here.

The list of parliamentary spokesmen include parliamentary leader Nga Kor Ming (Teluk Intan MP), chief whip Alice Lau (Lanang MP), Public Accounts Committee Wong Kah Woh (Ipoh Timur MP), Tony Pua (Damansara MP) for finance, Ong Kian Ming (Bangi MP) for international trade and industry, Yeo Bee Yin (Bakri MP) for climate change, science and technology, Teo Nie Ching (Kulai MP) for education, Hannah Yeoh (Segambut MP) for woman, family and community development , M. Kulasegaran (Ipoh Barat MP) for human resources and Teresa Kok (Seputeh MP) for plantation industries and commodities.

Another five names have also been decided as co-opt CEC members by the CEC. They are Lee Chin Chen (Bilut assemblyman), Howard Lee (Pasir Pinji assemblyman), RSN Rayer (Bukit Jelutong MP), Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali (Paloh assemblyman) and Vivian Wong (Sandakan MP).    

Prior to these five names, another five were co-opted during the party's 17th Congress held on March 20. They are Sivakumar Varatharaju Naidu, Tengku Zulpuri Shah bin Raja Puji, Khoo Poay Tiong, Ganabatirau Veraman and Syahredzan Johan.

Under the party constitution, 10 names can be co-opted into the CEC.

Previously, Loke said one of the criteria considered for co-opted members is the constituency area they represent.