Tony Pua believes the DAP has to renew itself with stronger talent if it is to prosper

Malaysia – If the DAP wants to stay relevant and capture Malaysians’ hearts, it must continually attract new and better people, according to the party’s expelled national publicity secretary Tony Pua, who was removed from the senior leadership committee after failing to keep his position.

Despite the fact that there are more seats this time — from 20 to 30 — Pua said that he was plainly rejected by DAP delegates in the internal leadership vote, blaming it on his zeal for revitalizing the party.

He said that the party must be tireless in renewing itself with stronger talent if it is to prosper and continue to earn support from Malaysians at large — particularly if there is a plan to be the most capable party in government.

“Perhaps my passion in pushing up the quality of our elected MPs offended some inside the party, particularly in Selangor, where I was initially beaten in the party’s state committee election in 2018,” he said in a statement.

Despite losing the internal election, the Damansara MP claimed he had no regrets about joining DAP and foregoing a career in business for politics.

He said that he would happily make way for younger and more brilliant DAP members who, he believes, would form the backbone of the party’s future and maintain Malaysians’ faith in it.

He asked DAP members to completely support Anthony Loke Siew Fook, the party’s new secretary-general, in his efforts to restore the party’s place in the federal government.

“While it is definitely disheartening, I embrace the party delegates’ decision with open arms. He claimed he has no remorse over losing his place on the DAP central executive committee (CEC) for the first time since 2008.

He informed Loke that he did not want a co-option position on the CEC, according to the 49-year-old.

“This is simply because, unlike most other candidates who did not make the cut, they did not get enough delegates’ votes.”

“Given my current standing in the party, it is evident that the party delegates have expressly decided to reject me.” As a result, if I return to the CEC through the co-option process, it would be in direct opposition to the delegates’ vote,” Pua stated.

In the DAP, the CEC’s elected members have the authority to appoint up to ten extra members to their committee.