PETALING JAYA: Teo Nie Ching, deputy chairman of the DAP women’s wing, is likely to lead the wing.

Chong Eng, head of the DAP women’s wing, is stepping down despite being nominated to contest in the wing’s election this Saturday.

A total of 15 candidates have been nominated and there are 15 positions available for contest in the wing, which means all of them will win a position in the women’s wing uncontested.

The new leadership of the women’s wing will be elected among the 15 candidates on Saturday.

Chong Eng confirmed with Sin Chew Daily that she had decided to withdraw from the contest despite being nominated.

She earlier expressed in a statement that it was the greatest regret in her political career not being fielded in the recent Penang state election.

“It is not easy for women to be in politics. They face many challenges.

“To lead the women’s wing nowadays, one needs to have the resources and platform.

“If one is a state assemblyman or a member of parliament, she will have more resources to lead the wing,” she said.

In the past, the DAP women’s wing was weak as few were elected representatives.

Chong said the breakthrough came when Teresa Kok, Fong Po Kuan and her were elected as members of parliament in 1999.

“The DAP women’s wing needs to be led by a leader who has more resources,” she said.

Teo, who is a deputy minister and a member of parliament, fits the criteria of a new leader, said Chong, adding that Teo had several platforms and more resources to mobilize.