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Media Statement
by Liew Chin Tong    
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(Petaling Jaya, Thursday) : I would like to register my appreciation to DAP Secretary-General Sdr. Lim Guan Eng for appointing me as his Election Strategy Advisor. It’s a great honour for me to be part of Guan Eng’s team to convince more voters that Malaysia needs a stronger DAP for a better future.

In various previous roles as a student leader, political scientist, newspaper columnist or party worker, I have been both a calm observer and an enthusiastic participant in politics for years. But the responsibility entrusted to me today is indeed a very special one which blends together my academic interest in electoral politics and political hope for a strengthened opposition.

My main task as Election Strategy Advisor is to provide the Secretary-General with research findings and suggestions on ways to expand DAP’s electoral base.

As the General Election draws closer, with the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council having met recently to draw up electoral strategies, it is timely for us to double our effort in taking DAP’s messages to more Malaysians.

Our message is a message of hope. And, hope is the greatest force in face of greed, fear and despair, which are domains of our opponent.

In a political environment paralyzed by racism, cronyism and policy drifts, DAP is a critical but rational and sensible voice that gives hopes to the people. The party’s forty-one years of existence against all odds is itself testimony that this country has not lost all its senses to negative politics.

It is my fervent hope that I will be able contribute more to DAP’s long tradition of politics of hope in my new capacity.

(15/3/2007) 

Liew Chin Tong

Profile of a young scholar and party worker

Liew Chin Tong, 30, joined DAP in January 2000. As General Manager of The Rocket Publications since 2005, he is credited for building a team to assist National Publicity Secretary Teresa Kok to revive the party organ as a regular publication. He also assisted the National Post-mortem Committee on the 2004 General Election in its review of DAP’s performance in the last election.

Liew has served the party in various capacities, namely Political Secretary to MP for Seputeh, Teresa Kok (1999-2001); Campaign Manager/Chief-of-Staff to MP for Bukit Bintang; Fong Kui Lun (2004); and DAP Headquarters’ Research Officer (since 2005). He is also a member of DAPSY National Executive Council and DAP Federal Territory State Committee.

Chin Tong, who was until recently a Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), Singapore, has an illustrious academic record. He graduated with Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Asian Studies (Honours) from the Australian National University and has completed masters’ degree programme in regional integration from University of Malaya (pending for convocation). He has had two articles published in reputable academic journals and a chapter of a book while working on his own book on political Islam in Malaysia. He has also conducted research on prime minister’s department, parliament and a range of other issues. 

Prior to his overseas education, he was a student of Chinese literature in New Era College, Kajang, and served its Student Union as Founding President. He is also a well-known as a columnist for Chinese newspapers and as a panelist for TV talk-shows.