Apart from more women, the DAP could see up to 20 leaders elected into the party’s disciplinary committee if a resolution to amend the party’s constitution is passed during its National Conference this December 14.

Announcing the amendments to be debating at the party meet which would be held at the Grand Ballroom, One City, The Place, Subang Jaya, DAP National Organizing Secretary Anthony Loke cited the increase in DAP members nationwide as the main reason for increasing the size of the disciplinary committee.

According to Loke, the party membership had increased from its initial 80 thousand in 2008 to almost double that amount currently.

“The current set up in the disciplinary committee (DC) has only 5 members, so sometimes it is hard for the committee to manage all cases. We want to make sure that all the discipline cases be handled more thoroughly and more efficiently,” he said.

Loke explained that each disciplinary proceeding would be overseen by a panel of three members from this committee. From their current 5 members, the amendment would see the DC expand to at least 10 members, to a maximum number of 20 people. Current chair of the disciplinary Committee is Acting Chairman of the party Tan Kok Wai.

Diversity in leadership

The proposal to increase the number of elected Central Executive Committee (CEC) members from 20 to 30 comes in light of the two fold increase in number of members, and the restructuring and CEC expansion is to facilitate a more diverse party leadership, said Loke at the DAP headquarters at Jalan Yew this morning.

To encourage women participation in the party, DAP would propose a quota of 30 percent from the new 30 CEC members for women.

“In other words, the DAP CEC must consist of at least nine woman leaders,” his statement read.

Currently, there are only 3 women from the 20 elected leaders, who are Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching, and Padang Lalang rep Chong Eng. Teo and Chong Eng both hope that the party delegates, who they say are progressive, would vote for the motion come this December 14.

The speaker for this years National Convention themed “Berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinging” (Many hands make light work), is Subang Jaya rep Hannah Yeoh who is also the Speaker of the Selangor State Assembly.

At the convention, DAP would also propose that all State Chairpersons, DAPSY heads, and Ketua Wanita’s who are not CEC members to be incorporated as ex-officio members in the CEC. However, these co-opted ex-officio members do not have voting rights in the committee.

DAP also proposes the restructuring of the Parliamentary Liaison Committee to improve its function and effectiveness. According to the party constitution, the role of the Parliamentary Liaison Committee is to assist the State Committee in co-ordinating the activities of the Branches in the constituency. It is also obliged to carry out any responsibility entrusted to it by the State Committee or the Central Executive Committee.

Tenure limits proposed

In a historic move by the party, Loke also announced proposing a limit on the number of terms for a DAP State Chairman. If the amendment is approved, no State leader would be able to assume her/her position for more than three terms.

With respect to its constitution amendment, DAP would be the first party in the country to institute such a change in state leadership.

On the other hand, the party would also propose increasing the years of appointment of State Committees, from two years to three years. Branch committee appointments would also be lengthened from a year to two years.

These proposals will be submitted for delegates to debate and vote on during the party conference. DAP’s National Conference (Konvension Biasa) is held every year, except once every three years when the National Congress is held to elect new office bearers. DAP’s last National Congress was held in 2012.

Resolutions to amend the party constitution can be passed by simple majority, if half the delegates vote in its favor. The innovative proposals will certainly be a focal point in the otherwise placid national conference. -The Rocket