Pandan DAP branch leaders, members join PRM

KUALA LUMPUR: Three DAP leaders and members from three branches have joined Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM).

The members from the Taman Muda, Cheras Hartamas and Pandan Perdana branches made the switch on Saturday, joining PRM, which is making its comeback to the political fray in time for the coming general election.

Former Taman Muda branch chairman Khoo Kian Seong said the members were disgruntled with the DAP leadership, claiming they have been unresponsive to members' grouses.

He also alleged that there were conflicts of interest in the handling of certain matters, adding that "not all us agreed to let Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad be named as the prime minister candidate for Pakatan Harapan". 

"We need a good party with good leaders to bring a real change to this country and that's why we decided to quit DAP and join PRM for the sake of the future," said Khoo, who was Taman Muda branch chairman for five years.

Selangor PRM secretary Jenice Lee Ying Ha, who is the former Selangor DAP publicity secretary, said with the branch leaders quitting DAP, there were no more DAP branches in Pandan.

"There are four DAP branches in Pandan and one has been inactive for the past two years.

"Now three of the active branches have joined PRM so there are no more DAP branches in Pandan," she said.

On another matter, Lee said her comeback to the political arena in the state constituency of Teratai had been progressing well.

"I've been contributing to this area for about 10 years and the acceptance level for my comeback has been high," she said.

Lee will be contesting the Pandan parliamentary seat and the Teratai state seat. She was formerly the Teratai assemblyman.

In the 13th general election, Lee contested as an independent candidate to retain the Teratai seat which she won in 2008. She lost to DAP's Tiew Way Keng.

Lee said PRM plans to field at least 20 candidates for parliamentary and state seats.