SHAH ALAM: The Selangor DAP polls kickstarted on Sunday (Nov 14) morning and is expected to be a fiery affair with two groups facing off to take control of the party's state chapter.

       While one side is made-up of party conservatives, the other side comprises many "youngsters" who were brought into the DAP to contest in the 2008 general election and subsequent national polls.

       Whilst the old-timers want to uphold the party's founding values, the newbies have an entirely new direction and philosophy.

       Outspoken Selangor DAP veteran Datuk Teng Chang Khim said the party conservatives are self-proclaimed representatives of the party's grassroots.

       The other contenders, dubbed the elites, are on the other hand linked to the party's top leadership, he added.

       "But the conservative group was also once linked to the party's top leadership but after a fallout, started calling themselves representatives of the grassroots," he said.

       He said the veteran group was also full of rhetoric and lacked substance.

       "The youngsters came into the party with political silver spoons in their mouths as they were chosen by the top leadership," said Teng.

       Given this, he added, they were protegees of the top leaders and owed them their loyalty.

       This may prevent them to shine as individuals as they may be under the control of their political benefactors, said the Bandar Baru Klang assemblyman and Selangor senior exco.

       On his Facebook Timeline, Teng had posted a cryptic message about the presence of a double-headed snake.

       When asked about it, Teng said it could be in reference to someone who was courting and being courted by both sides because the person made claims of having the numbers.

       Meanwhile, Klang MP Charles Santiago said it Selangor DAP should pick leaders who were capable of serving the people in the context of Pakatan Harapan aspirations.

       "We must be the catalysts to move away from racial and religious politics.

       "The newly elected leaders must have clarity in direction and be inclusive," he added.

       Santiago also pointed out that grassroots politics can be easily misdefined as racial politics.

       "We need a team of leaders who practise multi-racial politics and hope," he added.