Citing a report by Sinar Harian, Noor Ahmad said it was the DAP grassroots that would dictate the party’s direction.

“And not Umno, as claimed by Lim,” the Penang Umno information chief said in a statement today.

The daily had quoted former DAP MP Charles Santiago as saying that Lim should make way for fresh faces to contest the party’s chairmanship.

Noor was responding to a Malaysiakini report in which Lim was quoted as saying that his time in DAP would be determined by party members and not by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“DAP was never bossed around by Umno when we were in opposition and will not be bossed around when we are in government,” the former finance minister was quoted as saying.

Lim had said this in response to a jibe by Zahid who claimed that the Bagan MP’s era had passed and suggested he trust the next DAP leadership.

Zahid’s comments came in the wake of reports of a “concerted push” to oust Lim from his leadership position in DAP.

Last week, FMT reported that the push by certain factions in DAP for Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow to take over as the party’s next chairman was gaining momentum.

Earlier today, FMT reported that a large group within DAP is pushing for Lim to be retained as chairman since he is perceived as being unafraid of standing up to PKR and Umno.

A source had also claimed that PKR and Umno were seen as seeking to dismantle DAP’s “Malaysian Malaysia” concept, which has been the party’s battle cry since it was formed in 1965.

The DAP elections for the central executive committee will be held on March 16, in conjunction with the party’s national congress.

A total of 70 DAP leaders will vie for positions on the 30-member committee. Those elected will choose the office-bearers for the 2025-2028 term, a period leading up to the general election, expected by November 2027.