SANDAKAN: Sandakan DAP is seeing a growing exodus following the departure of Datuk Frankie Poon and Liau Fui Fui, with four more party branches announcing their resignation in protest against the state leadership, bringing the total to six.
In a joint statement on Monday (Oct 13), the branch chairmen from Pasar Sibuga, Kampung Berhala Darat, Yii Villa and Happy Valley said their collective decision to leave was made after internal discussions and unanimous agreement among members.
They said the move was made independently without external pressure.
“The current Sabah DAP leadership has strayed from the party’s founding spirit and failed to value the sacrifices of grassroots and veteran members who have long fought for the party and the people,” they said.
They also expressed their agreement with and support for Poon and Liau’s decision to quit the party, saying that the concerns raised by both leaders “reflect the same realities faced by grassroots members in Sandakan.”
“Political platforms may change, but our commitment to serve the people remains the same,” they said, adding that they would continue working independently for their respective communities.
When contacted, Liau said she believed more branches could follow suit, noting that both she and Poon continue to receive strong grassroots support in Sandakan.
The resignations bring the total number of DAP branches in Sandakan that have left the party since Poon and Liau’s departure to six. However, it remains unclear how many members of DAP in Sandakan have left to date.
Poon, the Tanjung Papat assemblyman and former Sabah DAP chairman, and Liau, who served as the state organising secretary, announced their resignations on Oct 11, citing loss of confidence in the party’s leadership and alleging that veteran members had been sidelined.
Poon is also chairman of Sabah government-linked company Development Berhad, while Liau chairs Jetama Water Sdn Bhd.
The Sandakan parliamentary seat is regarded as a DAP stronghold, having been among the party’s first federal wins in Sabah back in 1978. It comprises the state constituencies of Tanjung Papat and Elopura, the latter of which was previously held by DAP’s Calvin Chong, who later joined Warisan.
