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BUTTERWORTH: DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook said Gobind Singh Deo’s loss in the state party elections yesterday was “normal” and part of the democratic process.
Loke said Gobind, who served as the Selangor DAP chairman for the 2021-2024 term, was gracious in his defeat and respected the wishes of the delegates.
“It was indeed a shock defeat. (However) he continues to play an important role as deputy chairman of the party at the national level.
“I thank Gobind for his contributions to Selangor DAP all these years. His defeat does not mean that he needs to step aside, definitely not,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Perai today.
Loke told FMT later his reference to “stepping aside” meant that Gobind would not have to step down as digital minister.
Yesterday, Gobind failed to secure one of 15 spots on the state DAP committee, finishing in 16th place with 675 votes.
Earlier today, former DAP leader P Ramasamy suggested that Gobind’s loss was likely due to his “non-alignment” with the party’s “warlords”.
Ramasamy, a former Penang deputy chief minister II, contrasted Gobind’s defeat with Steven Sim’s rise to become Penang DAP chairman in September.
He also argued that DAP was predominantly a party for the Chinese community, adding that powerful “warlords” control access for non-Chinese candidates, which in effect limits their rise despite their talent.
Separately, Loke said the Penang LRT project would likely begin only next year pending talks with contractors. He hoped that talks would end by the end of the year.
Earlier, Loke witnessed the signing of an agreement between Railway Assets Corp (RAC), an agency under the transport ministry, and two developers to redevelop Kampung Manis in Perai.
The 14.5ha site will include the Madani Residences, which will have 338 affordable units, with 177 reserved for villagers staying on the RAC-owned land, for free.
About 300 families at Kampung Manis, whose ancestors worked at a nearby sugar factory, had been staying on government land for decades, even though there had been several attempts to remove them.
Loke said they will continue to stay there until the 30-storey apartments are completed in three years’ time. Each unit, costing RM400,000, would be 850 sq ft with three rooms, two bathrooms and a car park.
The subsequent phases will see more homes built, with commercial and mixed development, with an overall gross development value of RM1.5 billion.