The Malaysian Insider

By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 — The Democratic Action Party (DAP) today announced that former head of Transparency International Malaysia Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim is its new vice-chairman as it filled up its leadership ranks with some new faces.

Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng revealed this at the 15th DAP National Congress while announcing office bearers in a 30-man central executive committee that had co-opted 10 members to join the 20 elected yesterday.

The Penang chief minister also said that the move showed that DAP is "a party that is committed to CAT governance and a clean party".

At a press conference, it was revealed that the recruitment of Tunku Aziz had been planned for awhile despite his membership only being confirmed yesterday.

"He has been targeting us and we have been targeting him," said party adviser Lim Kit Siang, who polled the highest votes in the party elections but was not given any formal role in the central committee.

Tunku Aziz explained that he chose DAP because while other parties talked about democratic principles, "DAP is the party that tries much harder to put it into practice" and he had been targeting the party "for 20 years without their knowledge".

When asked why he chose DAP instead of Parti Keadilan Rakyat, he replied: "I feel that I trust the people around me and what the party stands for."

Tunku Aziz has in the past been critical of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the PKR leader that DAP has endorsed as prime minister-elect.

He side-stepped a question as to whether he would now tow the party line, saying that "I always have independent views. I have been critical on a number of issues. While I subscribe to an organisation's basic principles, there are times where we disagree. I have always championed the freedom to dissent."

The move is a big boost for the party as it has struggled in the past to improve its Malay base both at grassroots and leadership level.

"We hope that this will be a step that will be emulated by other Malays. We are a multiracial party and invite more Malays to join us as Barisan Nasional have exploited this and claim we are a Chinese chauvinist party. This cannot be because I am not Chinese but I am chairman," said chairman Karpal Singh, adding that having Tunku Aziz marked "a great day" for the party.

Tunku Abdul Aziz has held senior management positions in large private and public sector organisations in Malaysia, Hong Kong and the UK.

He was a Bank Negara advisor and a Group Director of Sime Darby limited before taking up a directorship at the Commonwealth Secretariat, London in 1985.

In February 2004 he was appointed a member of the Royal Commission inquiring into the police service.

There was also concern that party stalwart Kit Siang was missing from the lineup and while Karpal insisted he would remain as adviser Guan Eng clarified that further appointments would be decided in upcoming CEC meetings.

"He is invaluable and beyond question. He is a bridge builder and holds all sections of the party together. But he wants to give the young a chance to develop," said Guan Eng.

The DAP CEC saw few major changes in the lineup. Teresa Kok moved up to vice-chairman and the publicity secretary post she vacated is filled by newcomer Tony Pua.

Prof P. Ramasamy is now deputy secretary-general and party strategist Liew Chin Tong has been co-opted to replace him as international secretary.

DAP Central Executive Committee

Chairman: Karpal Singh

Deputy Chairman: Dr Tan Seng Giaw

Vice Chairman: M. Kula Segaran, Chow Kon Yeow, Teresa Kok, Tunku Abdul Aziz

Secretary-General: Lim Guan Eng

Deputy Secretary-General: Prof P. Ramasamy, Chong Eng, Ngeh Koo Ham

National Treasurer: Fong Kui Lun

Assistant National Treasurer: Nga Kor Meng

National Organising Secretary: Tan Kok Wai

Assistant National Organising Secretary: Vincent Wu

National Publicity Secretary: Tony Pua

Assistant National Publicity Secretary: Teoh Nie Ching

Political Education Secretary: Anthony Loke

Assistant Political Education Secretary: Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun

International Secretary: Liew Chin Tong

Education Bureau: Chong Eng

Education (Chinese) Bureau: Sim Tong Him

Education (Tamil) Bureau: M. Manogaran

Labour Bureau: A. Sivanesan