Apart from existing feuds between DAP fiery cili padi Fong Po Kuan and the Ngeh-Nga cousins in Perak, the breakup of DAP becomes more imminent as to who will seize control of the Rocket once the stalwart DAP, i.e. Lim Kit Siang or Karpal Singh retire for good, that is if they’ll every relinquish their respective position of key supremo and National Chairmanship to make way for fresh injection of new blood.

All along, it appeared that heir apparent Lim Guan Eng would continue the republican dynasty of DAP. But competition for the top spot has heated with the emergence of Karpal Singh’s sons, Jagdeep Singh and Gobind Deo Singh who have clearly made known their political ambitions. The Star on 18 Feb 08 reported that “Karpal’s boys in the fray” whereby the Singh brothers had shown intention to stand in the elections.

Already a tussle between the Lim and Singh clans looms as Guan Eng is reported to be after the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary candidacy for DAP, unseating incumbent Karpal. (Malaysiakini on 19 Feb 08 reported that Guan Eng’s potential nomination could be Bukit Gelugor). Seat jostling is nothing new and represents another factional fighting within DAP.

Another anomaly that appears within DAP which is probably indicative of the wedge between both families is the calling of press conferences. Isn’t it strange that DAP’s press conferences are usually chaired by Lim Kit Siang, and not by its chairman Karpal Singh? Is this some attention seeking stunt on Kit Siang’s part or is it some sinister de facto leader uncompromising on his believed raised platform as opposed to his boss’ chair?

DAP personality cults

Unlike MCA, DAP is all about personality cults. Community services are wanting in DAP leadership. There is no party rejuvenation process, unlike the first pillar of MCA 9-Point Party Platform which calls for a healthy political culture, where apart from term limitation of government and party office bearers to ensure the renewal process so that party members will continue serving the rakyat effectively, there is active recruitment of new members.  Since 2004, MCA  has injected new blood into the Party by successfully recruiting over 10,000 professionals. Moreover the establishment of the MCA School of Political Studies which aims to  inculcate a healthy and appropriate politico-cultural  mindset and to promote cadre training will enhance the quality and effectiveness of members and leaders at all levels. There just isn’t time to party infighting, unlike DAP. The formulation of the “Healthy Political Culture” pillar by MCA leaders indicates awareness that when a leader has wielded power for too long, decay in performance will set in, if not power abuse. Hence, the need for a rejuvenation process.

Already on Sunday, 17 Feb 08, maverick cili Fong Poh Kuan dropped the bombshell that she was resigning herself from defending her  Batu Gajah seat. Amidst all the speculations, anyone could be forgiven it they thought that her withdrawal from politics was because of the strain of politics on her personal life. After all, she was the butt of two MP’s sexist jokes. However, she attributed no fault against the Barisan Nasional, but blamed disagreement with the Nga-Ngeh cousins within Perak DAP as her primary reason for withdrawing from contest. It is nothing new in DAP that when bright young emerging potential leaders show some charisma, their necks would be on the chopping block from other leaders who are threatened when their ineptness show and will stop at nothing to kill a career of uprising starlets.