00:00With DAP's elections less than a week away, a party insider claims that a large group
00:07within the party is pushing for Lim Guan Eng to be retained as chairman as he is perceived
00:12as being unafraid of standing up to PKR and UMNO.
00:17The source claimed that PKR and UMNO were seen as seeking to dismantle DAP's Malaysian-Malaysia
00:23concept which has been the party's battle cry since it was formed in 1965.
00:29Separately another source said the rise of younger leaders who are also ministers indicates
00:34a potential shift away from the long-standing dominance of Guan Eng's father, party veteran
00:40Lim Kit Siang.
00:42The younger leaders, backed by moderate forces from within and outside the party, hold the
00:46promise of a more collective leadership style that emphasizes collaboration and inclusivity.
00:54On the pro-Guan Eng side, the party insider said PKR and UMNO felt that seat negotiations
00:59and government posts would be a lot easier without him.
01:04The source said Guan Eng never balked at speaking out on contentious issues, whereas some leaders
01:09would shy away from such matters, adding that this was another reason for retaining Guan
01:13Eng as DAP chairman.
01:16Another source said the rise of leaders such as party secretary-general Lok Siu Fook, vice-chairman
01:22Ngah Kor Meng, and organizing secretary Stephen Sim were likely to broaden DAP's appeal.
01:29The source said recent statements by the likes of Lok, Ngah and Sim have suggested a more
01:34conciliatory approach, focusing on reassuring Malay-Muslim voters that the party poses no
01:40threat to their special privileges and Islam.
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