GEORGE TOWN: DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook has brushed off claims of a frosty relationship between Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and his predecessor Lim Guan Eng.
"What cold relationship? I see that everything is okay (between Chow and Lim).
"They can sit down for coffee together. The only thing cold is the air-conditioning," he said when asked on the strained ties between the two.
Soon after the Penang state elections in August, political observers had noticed a rift between Chow and the Lim, who is DAP national chairman.
Elaborating, Loke said in any organisation, even within political parties, there were bound to be differences.
"That (differences in opinion) is normal.
"But whatever the decision (made), that is not a personal decision. Rather, it is a collective decision. In this case, the party's decision.
"We are here to work and bring betterment for the people," he told newsmen after the launch of the state DAP convention.
Seated between Loke was Chow and Lim.
In late October, Chow had said that all was well in Penang DAP. (Link: https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/10/972988/all-well-penang-dap-...)
His response came after a former state executive councillor and DAP assemblyman had said that the party's grassroots wanted political tensions in the state to ease.
Datuk Seri Phee Boon Poh said they had already sent a message to the leadership.
Meanwhile, Loke said unlike Lim, he has no intention of pursuing legal actions against Kepala Batas member of parliament Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad, who had alleged that the former was related to the latter.
"This is because what she said about me does not have a negative connotation.
"This is unlike Lim who was allegedly linked to the late Malayan Communist Party chief Chin Peng," he said.
Asked on Tasek Gelugor member of parliament Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan's dare to DAP to sue Barisan Nasional (BN), which had first linked DAP leaders and Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew and Chin Peng, Loke replied:
"It is up to us who we want to sue".
Earlier in his speech, Lim said DAP must continue to regenerate and renew itself with a clear succession plan.
He said the national leadership had led the way with a transition of power to Loke, who would set the future direction of the party.
"We are a young party and will continue to be a party that is young in ideas and ideals even amongst veteran members," he said.
Lim also said that all party leaders holding government positions must be reminded that they owed their position to DAP.
"The (recent) elections have shown that the people support the party and not individual leaders.
"For this reason, all leaders and members must be disciplined and abide by party directives.
"As elected representatives, we must listen to the people and make sure that civil servants implement our policies that benefit the people," he added.