DAP four who quit regret misleading voters into backing Islamist party

MALACCA: Malacca DAP is left licking its wounds when its Kota Melaka MP Sim Tong Him along with three other assemblymen dropped a bombshell by quitting the party.

The four elected representatives will now remain as independents.

Taking a hard-hitting swipe at his former party, Sim said the DAP now has no proper direction and that it has deviated from its core objectives.

“We have an obligation towards our voters and the Chinese community.

“All four of us want to apologise for misleading the people to support PAS as a moderate party in the last general election.

“We want to say sorry in our personal capacity as we can no longer speak on behalf of the DAP,” he said.

Their exit saw the state DAP now left with just three state seats – Bandar Hilir, Ayer Keroh and Kota Laksamana.

The other three who quit are former Malacca DAP chairman Goh Leong San (DAP-Duyong), Lim Jak Wong (DAP-Bachang) and Chin Choon Seong (DAP-Kesidang).

Sim also hit out at the party’s central leadership, saying that they had failed to outline a proper stand when working with PAS from day one.

He said PAS kept changing its manifestos and political plans to hoodwink the voters.

“The current DAP leaders are also not willing to accept constructive criticism.

“We are quitting as a matter of principle and not to join Barisan Nasional or other political parties.

“I can tell you we are leaving with a heavy heart. It is a painful decision but we are left with no other choice,” he said, pointing out that Goh and him were the most vocal during ceramah to get the people to support PAS.

“We are remorseful for having betrayed the voters,” he added.

Sim said there was no right stewardship when working with Pakatan Rakyat or Pakatan Harapan, in which racism and bigotry were common.

Hence, he said it would be pointless for them to stay on without a clear path in its struggles as the DAP had chosen to continue working with other (Opposition) parties with certain agendas.

“So we decided to make a bold stand to quit the party in order not to lead the voters, especially the Chinese community, astray,” he said.

On claims that they had quit due to resentment over losing the state party’s election, Sim said they could have quit last year but waited, hoping the party’s leadership would change and provide answers to some of their queries.

“But there is no reply as to the stand of the party on PAS’ agenda and whether we need to support their campaigns,” he said.

Sim also alleged that the party’s elections in November 2015, was “manipulated” by hidden hands from the headquarters.

“Both Goh and myself received strong backing from the grassroots and could have won easily.

“I don’t like to wash dirty linen in the public which is detrimental to the party,” he said.

Sim added that no efforts were made to reconcile factions and quell infighting in the party.

Goh, Lim and Chin also said that their reasons for quitting were similar.