KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 (Sin Chew Daily) – Who will be the successor of DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, whose tenure is up by the end of the year? That is the focus of the upcoming annual national convention on December 20.

The candidacy for the "designated" secretary-general may not be confined only to incumbent national organizing secretary Anthony Loke or deputy sec-gen Nga Kor Ming. Now deputy chairman Gobind Singh Deo is also tipped to be one of the candidates.

Sources said Lim is stepping down by the end of this year, and may be replacing Tan Kok Wai as the party's chairman.

The annual national convention of DAP will also be electing its new leaders to lead the party for the coming 15th general elections.

It is learned that many party members are contesting in the party elections this round, especially for the positions in central executive committee (CEC).

DAP grassroots are said to be unhappy with the party's MPs who did not request for bloc voting when the Budget 2021 debate was wound up at policy stage in the Dewan Rakyat last Thursday.

DAP insiders revealed that the national organizing secretary issued letters to all DAP members in October to notify them of the annual national convention on December 20. They were told to be prepared for the party elections, pending a reply from the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

"The party has requested to defer the annual national convention due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but ROS rejected the request.

"DAP wrote to ROS again in October seeking permission to defer the annual national convention for at least six months, the ROS has so far not replied the second request.

"According to party constitution, the party needs at least ten weeks to inform members of the annual national convention.

"The party is notifying us to be ready for the convention and we are now preparing for it," said the source.

The source also said the party is now considering a virtual convention and voting would be held at respective states.

Earlier, Nga, who is also Perak DAP chairman, told Sin Chew Daily he would respond when the timing was right whether he was vying for the sec-gen post. 

Lim was elected DAP secretary-general on September 5, 2004. His tenure expired on September 29, 2016 due to the three-term limit for the position set by party constitution.

However, as the party was preparing for the 14th general elections, the CEC decided to defer party elections by 18 months. Lim's tenure as secretary-general was thus extended for the same period.

DAP held a re-election on November 12, 2017 as its election on September 29, 2013 was not recognized by ROS.

The DAP leadership elected in 2017 remains until today.