DAP veteran warns of ‘one-man’ rule, calls for Guan Eng’s exit from polls

DAP veteran warns of ‘one-man’ rule, calls for Guan Eng’s exit from polls

GEORGE TOWN: Five DAP election delegates have called on national chairman Lim Guan Eng to withdraw from Sunday’s central executive committee contest, warning that the party is drifting towards a “one-man” rule.

The group, led by party veteran AR Krishnan, voiced concerns over what they viewed to be an increasing concentration of power in the hands of a single leader.

“DAP is already becoming a one-man party.

“We cannot allow the party to fall into a one-man ruling system,” he told reporters here today.

Political rivals have previously described DAP as a one-man party, often using the term “Lim dynasty” to highlight the control Lim Kit Siang and his son, Guan Eng, exercised from 1970 to 2022.

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FMT previously reported that there was a “concerted effort” to oust Guan Eng from his leadership position in DAP during Sunday’s party elections.

Krishnan, a party stalwart for over 50 years, claimed he had repeatedly raised these concerns at past conventions, but they had “fallen on deaf ears”.

The former Lorong Pasar DAP branch chief said 30 branches in Penang were unhappy with the current leadership, fearing that the party’s democratic traditions were eroding.

He also urged incumbent CEC member RSN Rayer to withdraw from the contest, arguing that both he and Guan Eng had served long enough and should make way for younger leaders.

While he did not specify why Rayer should leave, Krishnan insisted that both Guan Eng and Rayer “have been there for quite some time” and should “give way to capable persons” to uphold the party’s image and values.

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He said the DAP leadership should be based on democratic principles, not individual dominance.

“The party is not about one person. Leadership is a responsibility, not a privilege,” the former Penang DAP committee member said.

Krishnan also accused the party’s top leadership of making unilateral decisions with little input from grassroots members.

“There are so many complaints we have raised, but they won’t even give us a chance to talk. Everything they decide is final. There is no room for discussion,” he said.

He also alleged that Indian leaders within DAP had minimal influence in decision-making, reflecting broader grievances about the party’s engagement with its Indian members.

There is no platform for us. Indian leaders in DAP have no accountability to Indian members. How do we table our grassroots’ problems?” he said.

Asked if his group would boycott the elections or leave the party if Guan Eng continued to contest, Krishnan said they would continue to voice their concerns but remain in DAP.

“We are just putting the record straight. I won’t attack him, but I will approach him and say, ‘Give way to others. You have enjoyed the facilities for more than 15 years, let others lead’,” he said.

FMT has contacted Guan Eng and Rayer for comment.