Internal strife will see more leaving DAP, says CM
The internal strife within DAP here will see more members leaving the party following the resignation of 182 disgruntled members, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron said.
The state Barisan Nasional chairman yesterday revealed unresolved issues within the party led to their departure, a move that worked for the ruling coalition as DAP had been its main adversary.
Idris also called on those who left DAP to speak on BN’s platform and voice their frustrations about the opposition party.
“These leaders have strong influence,” he said, adding that although DAP leaders had claimed the resignation of four of its state leaders a month ago would have no impact, the latest exit of grassroots members proved otherwise.
“We will see a multiplier effect with more members leaving the party due to their dissatisfaction with DAP’s leadership,” said Idris.
Party members who left over the weekend cited disappointment with the party and its deviation from its original struggle.
This was a month after Kota Melaka member of parliament Sim Tong Him, Bachang assemblyman Lim Jak Wong, Kesidang assemblyman Chin Choong Seong and Duyong assemblyman Goh Leong San resigned from the party, citing a loss of confidence in its leadership under secretarygeneral Lim Guan Eng.
In explaining why the members left, former Malacca DAP deputy chairman Liou Chen Kuang said the party had swerved from its original struggle and its “Malaysian Malaysia” principle and sold off the Chinese’s honour in a desperate move to obtain votes.
Liou, when contacted yesterday, said they did not plan to join BN but would work with it to ensure the people would not be misled into voting for DAP.
DAP state chairman Tey Kok Kiew said the resignation of party members was expected, as the quartet who resigned from the party last month had “established a certain team” in DAP over the last 20 to 30 years.
“Sim and Goh have been in the party for a long time, hence it is expected that they have many followers.
“Under the party, Sim won the parliamentary seat twice and four state seats; Goh won five terms in the state constituencies and Lim won three times in the state constituencies.
“So, in the period of 20 to 30 years, they surely have drummed up support from grassroots members.
“Moreover, since the four’s resignation, the people around them have persuaded other members to follow suit, so the exodus was already expected,” he said.