DAP leaders Lim Hui Ying and V Sivakumar, ousted at its March polls, have now been appointed to sit on the party鈥檚 central executive committee.PETALING JAYA: DAP鈥檚 decision to appoint Lim Hui Ying and V Sivakumar to its central executive committee (CEC) appears to be an effort to close ranks and boost Indian representation in the party, says an analyst.James Chin of the University of Tasmania said both appointments had been expected, explaining that Sivakumar鈥檚 selection reflected a push for ethnic diversity within the party.鈥淪ivakumar was appointed because they want to increase the non-Chinese voices, especially Indian voices, so that鈥檚 okay.鈥淗e is also a long-term DAP grassroots leader. It鈥檚 good that he鈥檚 there to provide an Indian balance,鈥 he told FMT.Chin said Lim鈥檚 appointment signalled a mending of ties with the Lim family, following earlier criticism over their perceived dominance within the party.鈥淭he party (appeared to) turn hard against the Lim family (during the CEC elections), so I think this is the party sending a signal they don鈥檛 want to fight the Lim family.鈥淗ence, they allow two Lims to be in the CEC. It鈥檚 very much a sort of a peace offering,鈥 he said.Hui Ying鈥檚 elder brother, former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, was elected to the CEC at the polls.Akademi Nusantara鈥檚 Azmi Hassan said Hui Ying鈥檚 appointment may also be about allowing her to retain her position as deputy education minister. He said it would be hard to justify her place in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim鈥檚 Cabinet otherwise.鈥淪o, just to justify her presence as deputy minister, she is appointed to the CEC,鈥 he said.Azmi said Sivakumar鈥檚 inclusion could raise questions, given that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission had investigated the human resources ministry during his tenure as minister.鈥淭he stigma of being investigated by MACC makes it difficult to justify Sivakumar鈥檚 appointment鈥 he said.In April 2023, Sivakumar rejected calls to resign or go on leave after MACC questioned him twice over alleged corruption in foreign worker recruitment.Three of his aides were remanded but later released.Sivakumar subsequently sacked five aides.Lim and Sivakumar were among the 10 appointed to the CEC earlier this week. Both contested during the CEC elections in March, but failed to secure enough votes.The others are Kelvin Yii, V Papparaidu, M Thulsi Thivani, Chen Kah Eng, Yeoh Soon Hin, Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali, Yap Yee Vonne and Wu Him Ven.