Form new party, DAP leaders tell Penang Forum

GEORGE TOWN: Ten Penang DAP backbenchers have called on the Penang Forum civil society to form a new political party or join existing ones if they want to continue to attack the state government.

In a joint statement, the 10 assemblymen said Penang Forum claims to be a voice but they are not elected and cannot claim to speak for the people.

Pakatan Harapan’s plans for Penang’s future were offered to Penang voters openly in the last general election and the coalition was given a mandate, they said.

“The democratic will of Penangites must be respected as we are now bound to deliver our promises to our voters.”

They added the forum claims to be apolitical and a voice of civil society, yet a senior member of the group was on speaking engagements with Gerakan, an opposition party, which once ruled Penang as part of Barisan Nasional.

Another participant – Zikrullah Ismail, is a PAS Youth leader from Bayan Baru.

With so much political connection and ambition involved, the forum leaders should not continue to hide behind the veil of civil society and instead join political parties or form a new one.

Democracy is open to all, and they can compete for a mandate just like everyone else, the group said.

Invitations to the forum seem to be more of a publicity stunt to trap and tarnish the Pakatan state government, they said in response to a news report, which quoted the forum’s executive council member Dr Lim Mah Hui as saying that elected representatives may need to be kicked out before they can agree to attend the forum’s events.

“Invitations (by Lim) are sent out at the last minute and panelists are not in balance with those who do not agree with its agenda. The forum has become nothing short of an opposition political rally,” the DAP leaders said.

The forum also needs to be reminded that although it made it seem that the state government does not care about its grouses, it held its forum at Dewan Sri Pinang, a government building.

This opportunity and platform would have been nearly impossible during the BN era, they added.

The backbenchers are Teh Lai Heng (Komtar), Satees Muniandy (Bagan Dalam), Heng Lee Lee (Berapit), H’ng Mooi Lye (Jawi), Lee Chun Kit (Pulau Tikus), Gooi Zi Sen (Pengkalan Kota), Lim Siew Khim (Sungai Pinang), Ong Ah Teong (Batu Lanchang), Syerleena Abdul Rashid (Seri Delima) and Ng Soon Siang (Air Itam).