SHAH ALAM: Seremban MP Anthony Loke is the new DAP secretary-general, replacing Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng who stepped down after completing his term.

       Loke was unanimously selected by the newly-elected 30-member central executive committee (CEC) to helm the party.

       The secretary-general’s post is the most important position in the DAP and is equivalent to that of the president in other political parties.

       Loke also emerged third in the CEC polls with 1,625 votes.

       In his maiden speech as secretary-general, Loke said the election and new appointments marked a new era in DAP where there would be leaders across three generations.

       “I have also informed my fellow CEC members earlier that my leadership will bring about an inclusive approach whereby all party leaders and members will have a role to play,” said the former transport minister.

       He added that future CEC meetings would also see new appointments through the forming of committees so that leaders without any portfolios would still have specific roles to play.

       The CEC also appointed Guan Eng as chairman and Gobind Singh Deo as his deputy.

       Former DAP chairman Tan Kok Wai has been appointed party adviser while party veteran Lim Kit Siang, who announced his active retirement earlier in the day, has been appointed party mentor.

       The party’s vice-presidents for the new term are Nga Kor Ming, Chow Kon Yeow, Chong Chieng Jen, M. Kulasegaran and Teresa Kok.

       Fong Kui Lun is now the DAP treasurer-general while Liew Chin Tong, V. Sivakumar and Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji were appointed assistant secretaries-general.

       In the battle for the 30 CEC positions, Puchong MP Gobind scored the highest with 1,782 votes followed by Chow, the Penang Chief Minister, who got 1,641 votes.

       Among the other top 15 were Seputeh MP Kok with 1,373 votes, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh with 1,346 votes and Bukit Bintang MP Fong with 1,341 votes.

       Other notable personalities such as Sungai Pelek assemblyman Ronnie Liu emerged at 20th place with 1,070 votes.

       Meanwhile, those who didn’t make the cut included Damansara MP Tony Pua and Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming.