DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang today described the two Penang MCA state assembly representatives who abstained from voting against the deferment of the Penang Outer Ring Road Project (Porr) project recently as the victims of four political factors.

The two, Tan Cheng Liang (BN-Jawi) and Lim Boo Chang (BN-Datuk Keramat), had since came under fire from senior BN leaders including Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his deputy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The four factors, according to Lim, are internal Umno politics, the rivalry between Gerakan and MCA over the leadership for Penang BN, cowardice and subservience of MCA leadership vis-a-vis Umno and the blatant refusal to put people's interests above BN interests.

He explained that on Umno's part in the controversy, Abdullah who will be taking over as the premier next October has to send a clear message of the need for party discipline and blind loyalty to his party members.