Two Perak DAP reps quit state committee but remain assemblymen, party members

IPOH: Two Perak DAP assemblymen have resigned from the party’s committee after claiming that the state party chairman had failed to consult members on the position of embattled state executive council member, Paul Yong Choo Kiong.

Malim Nawar assemblyman Leong Cheok Keng and Pokok Assam assemblyman Leow Thye Yih, who are the party’s state deputy treasurer and assistant organising secretary, respectively, resigned with immediate effect.

Leong said both Leow and he were upset when they read in a Chinese daily quoting state chairman Nga Kor Ming as stating that Yong’s position as an exco member would be discussed in the state Pakatan Harapan meeting, and appropriate action would be taken depending on the circumstances.

“He (Nga) should be discussing with the 20 committee members first on matters pertaining to Yong, as all this while the committee is in solidarity with Yong. The committee does not comprise one person only.

“Without speaking to the committee members, he made a statement in the media, and from our understanding, we believe that Yong’s position as an exco member might be affected, ” he told a press conference at his law firm here Wednesday (Sept 11).

Yong was charged last month with raping his former Indonesian maid. He had claimed trial at a Sessions Court here.

Two days after the charge, Yong finally decided to go on leave from his official duties to solely focus on his rape trial to clear his name and establish his innocence.

Leong, who is also Yong’s lawyer, said his (Yong’s) position must be discussed in the party first, as he (Yong) was appointed as an exco through the party’s recommendation.

“Even the Mentri Besar had said there would not be any reshuffle in the exco leadership, and that Yong’s case has not disrupted the position.

“So what is the point of us becoming committee members when such matters are not discussed, thus we both made the decision to leave the committee.

“However, we are still assemblymen, and members of DAP. We are loyal to the party’s central executive committee, and to the Perak Mentri Besar, ” he added.

Leow claimed that the position of the working committee was determined by Nga, and not in accordance with the party’s constitution.

“This makes us feel that the committee is invalid, including the state party chairman’s position.

“This is no longer a Democratic Action Party; under the leadership of Nga, it has turned into a 'Dictator Action Party', ” he added.

When asked if they had contacted Nga over their resignation and to clear air over the issue, Leong said, “He (Nga) did not discuss with us, so I don’t see the need for us to do so.

“The committee has been talking about solidarity with Yong, and we got a shock when we read the newspapers today.

“Any decision on Yong’s position must have the consensus, or the majority decision by the committee, but in this case there was none, ” he added.

Nga, in a WhatsApp reply, said the claims were baseless, as Yong is on leave as announced by the Mentri Besar.

“His exco position remains at the status quo, ” he said.