KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 — Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng has secured a seat in DAP’s 30-member central executive committee (CEC) despite facing a campaign calling for his removal from the party’s top leadership. The former finance minister and two-term Penang chief minister, who was previously DAP’s secretary-general for 17 years, placed 26th in the election, one of his lowest rankings in recent years.
The newly elected CEC members will now decide on key leadership positions for the 2025-2028 term, with speculation mounting over whether Lim will retain his role as party chairman or be assigned another post. Damansara MP Gobind Singh Deo emerged as the top vote-getter with 2,785 votes, followed by Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen (2,631 votes) and Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching (2,585 votes).
Selangor executive councillor Ng Suee Lim (2,563 votes), Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook (2,508 votes), and Puchong MP Yeo Bee Yin (2,503 votes) also ranked among the top contenders. Notably, several senior party figures, including Jelutong MP RSN Rayer, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, and Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, failed to secure a spot in the CEC, marking one of the biggest upsets in the election.
Lim’s lower ranking has fueled debate over his political future, particularly amid calls for DAP’s leadership renewal. While he remains a key figure within the party, the CEC’s upcoming internal appointments will determine his continued influence in shaping DAP’s direction. With the results signaling both continuity and change within the party, the focus now shifts to how the newly formed CEC will structure its leadership team in the coming weeks.
