DAP's decision to drop seven incumbents, including five Penang State Government Excos, from contesting in the state PRN is a reform process implemented to ensure that the party remains dynamic and relevant in politics.
DAP Secretary General Anthony Loke said that the process is also a process that is expected to bring new life and it is something that every political party should do.
He explained that DAP also takes a balanced approach so that the Penang PRN candidates have new faces and old faces so that they can together build strength in the state.
"DAP will not hesitate in this process, because if we fail to implement this reform process our party will become irrelevant.
"We don't want to reach a stage where we are already behind before we make reforms," he said in a press conference after announcing the Penang and Kedah DAP candidates for the 15th PRN, here today.
Among the seven incumbents dropped by DAP from contesting in the Penang PRN include the five Excos of the state government administration namely Phee Boon Poh (Sungai Puyu); Soon Lip Chee (Bagan Jermal); Chong Eng (Pangkalan Kota), Yeoh Soon Hin (Terubong Swamp) and Dr. P. Ramasamy (Perai).
Also dropped are M. Satees (Bagan Dalam) and Lee Chun Kit (Rat Island).
According to Anthony, the reform process in which there are DAP figures dropped will be done every time the election takes place.
"One day I may also be replaced, so I want to state that the party is bigger than any leader, there is no leader who cannot be replaced, even Lim Kit Siang retired," he said.
In the meantime, when commenting on DAP figures including Ramasamy and Chong Eng who were dropped, Anthony said that the party made such considerations to give way and opportunity to new face candidates to serve the community.
"There are a number of figures such as Ramasamy who has served three terms as Deputy Chief Minister, while Chong Eng has served a total of six terms as an assemblyman and Member of Parliament since 1995.
"So, there is a need that we feel we need to give a chance to new faces, that's what we have decided," he said.
Meanwhile, he added, he is also confident that the incumbents who were not nominated in the PRN this time will not contest as independent candidates
PRN Pulau Pinang
N07 Sungai Puyu - Phee Syn Tze
N08 Bagan Jermal - Chee Yeeh Keen
N09 Bagan Dalam - K Kumaran
N13 Berapit - Heng Lee Lee
N15 Padang Lalang - Daniel Gooi Zi Sen
N17 Perai - S Sundarajoo
N19 Jawi - Jason H'ng Mooi Lye
N22 Tanjung Bungah - Zairil Khir Johari
N23 Air Putih - Lim Guan Eng
N25 Pulau Tikus - Joshua Woo Sze Zeng
N26 Padang Kota - Chow Kon Yeow
N27 Pengkalan Kota - Wong Yuee Harng
N28 Komtar - Teh Lai Heng
N29 Datuk Keramat - Jagdeep Singh Deo
N30 Sungai Pinang - Lim Siew Khim
N31 Batu Lanchang - Ong Ah Teong
N32 Seri Delima - Tan Hooi Peng
N33 Air Itam - Joseph Ng Soon Siang
N34 Paya Terubong - Wong Hon Wai
PRN Kedah
N13 Kota Darulaman - Teh Swee Leong
N11 Derga - Tan Kok Yew
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