(Kuala Lumpur) More than 70 candidates are contesting for a post of central executive committee (CEC) in DAP’s party election on 16 Mac.

 It is an intense fight among the 70 candidates to be elected as the CEC, which is made up of 30 members.

National organising secretary Steven Sim will announce the list of contestants on 3 Mac (Monday).

A total of 4,200 delegates will vote during the national congress held at IDCC Shah Alam on 16 March.

DAP advisor Tan Kok Wai and treasurer Fong Kui Lun did not contest this round.

 Apart from DAP vice chairman M. Kulasegaran also a deputy minister who announced his decision to pull out from the contest, other ministers and deputy ministers are nominated to contest.

They are : Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin and Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Alice Lau.

Sin Chew Daily learned that 10 candidates from Penang are Lim Guan Eng, Hui Ying, Sim, DAP vice chairman Chow Kon Yeow, P. Kasturi, Ram Karpal Singh, Yeoh Soon Hin, Soon Lip CheePhee Syn Tze and RSN Rayer.

In Selangor, state chairman Ng Sze Han, deputy V Ganabatirau, vice chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim, Ean Yong Hian Wah, Yeoh Bee Yin, Syahredzan Johan, R Rajiv and Tiew Way Keng are contesting.

In Johor, the contestants are state deputy chairman Wong Shu Qi, vice chairman Sheikh Umar Ali, organising secretary Liow Cai Tung and Tan Hong Pin.

Of the 30 positions, nine of them or 30% are reserved for women.

Khoo Poay Tiong, Kota Melaka member of parliament who is the vice organising secretary, said the number of delegates  had increased from few hundred in year 2000 to 4,200 now.

“The result of preliminary round of election is expected to be released by 6pm where the new CEC members will proceed to elect the new leadership after the preliminary round,‘’ he said.

The DAP Malaysia website states that the Central Executive Committee (CEC) is the highest decision-making body, leading the party by setting directions and constructing its policies.

The CEC consists of 30 members democratically elected by branch delegates during the Party National Congress, who are empowered to co-opt 10 additional members. The members of the CEC shall elect the respective office bearers of the Party, headed by the Secretary-General.

The CEC enforces the Constitution of the party to promote its aims and to take any action it deems necessary for such purpose.