'Lim dynasty' debate returns to haunt DAP as Tanjong goes to chairman's sister

For decades, father-son duo Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng have been household names in DAP – the so-called "Lim dynasty" which long symbolised the party's top leadership. 

But another Lim has entered the limelight in the run-up to the 15th general election (GE15): Lim Hui Ying, the Penang DAP secretary and sister of party chairman Guan Eng. 

The announcement that Hui Ying would be fielded in Penang's parliamentary seat of Tanjong was seen by some as a consolidation of views painting DAP as a "family business". 

Speaking to MalaysiaNow, political analyst Tang Ah Chai acknowledged a basis for such belief. 

In DAP, he said, the role of secretary-general outweighs that of the national chairman. 

While Guan Eng had held the top post since 2004, he was replaced by Anthony Loke Siew Fook in March after reaching the maximum three-term limit. 

He was instead elected as the party's national chairman while his father, Kit Siang, announced his retirement from politics. 

In the context of the upcoming election, Tang said, should Pakatan Harapan (PH) fail to secure Putrajaya, there would be little further influence from the former secretary-general. 

"As the family influence slowly dilutes, it raises concerns and precautions, and Hui Ying was fielded in," he said. 

Hui Ying, 59, was appointed as a senator in 2018. She has been tasked with defending the Tanjong seat previously won by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, while Chow will contest the Batu Kawan seat held by Kasthuri Patto. 

On Loke's performance since taking over the top role from Guan Eng, Tang said the Seremban incumbent had received praise from both within and outside of the party. 

"He's different from Guan Eng," he added. "His way with words is steady." 

Analyst James Chin of Australia's University of Tasmania meanwhile said that while favouritism exists in DAP, this was the case with all political parties. 

"You can't escape, this is just human nature," he added. 

And while Chinese support for the opposition might have decreased, he said, DAP was still "in the game" in areas with widespread Chinese communities. 

"It's very difficult to dislodge them," he said. "In other words, they will still win, but maybe with a smaller majority."  

'Narrative of control'

A long-standing component of the PH coalition, DAP has often been tied to a narrative of control within the pact.

Such views are largely linked to the fact that DAP holds the most seats in PH, and that none of its MPs jumped ship after the Sheraton Move in 2020 which saw the collapse of the PH government. 

Tang said DAP might be seen as the "controlling" factor in PH as fellow component Amanah was still relatively new and PH lynchpin PKR was beset with internal splits. 

"But if it outshines PKR and Amanah, DAP alone won't be able to make a huge difference," he added. 

He also noted that all three parties had made clear their support for Anwar Ibrahim as PH's candidate for prime minister. 

"On this basis, they have a certain chemistry," he said. 

Both Tang and Chin agreed that DAP's move to field Malay candidates was "the right choice" and might go some way in helping the party gain support from the Malay community. 

Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Chin noted DAP's mantra of being a secular, non-racial party. 

"You can't claim that you are a non-racial party if the majority of your candidates and supporters are from one race," he said. 

In Bentong, for example, the party is fielding Young Syefura Othman, its incumbent assemblyman for Ketari, in place of environmental activist Wong Tack. 

"She is seen as quite a people person, and I don't see why DAP shouldn't promote her," Chin said. 

Tang meanwhile said he expected an increase in support for Young Syefura in Bentong. 

"Wong's performance in Bentong was not outstanding," he said. "Strategically, (fielding Young Syefura) is the right move."