Pulau Tikus assemblyperson Koay Teng Hai will appeal the DAP’s decision to suspend his membership for six months from today.

The disciplinary committee imposed this for his absence from a recent Penang legislative assembly sitting.

NONE Koay admitted his error, saying this was “misjudgment” on his part at a time when the House was voting on the Anti-hopping Bill.

He apologised to his supporters and the party for having placed them in a “difficult position”, and thanked both supporters and voters for keeping faith in him.

“This is not the end. I will appeal to the board. At the moment, I hope all of you will calm down and continue to support the DAP and follow its agenda for a better Malaysia,” Koay told a press conference in Penang today.

“I respect the decision of the disciplinary board on Jan 11. I promise to appeal to them to reconsider my punishment. As a state assemblyperson, I will continue to serve my constituents until the House is dissolved.”

Last week, Koay was found guilty of breaching party discipline by failing to attend the state assembly sitting at which the anti-hopping Penang Constitutional Enactment (Amendment) Bill 2012 was passed .

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the central executive committee will consider any appeal, which Koay is entitled to submit within 14 days.

He said the action was based on a complaint by the Penang DAP as Koay had disobeyed its instructions.

‘Leave application rejected’

As to whether the penalty is harsh, since Koay had obtained leave from speaker Abdul Halim Hussein to travel to the US to observe the presidential elections on Nov 6, Lim declined to comment.

lim guan eng and dap “I am sitting on the CEC and I have to hear his appeal, so it is better for me not to comment,” said Lim (left) , who is Penang chief minister.

Lim said Koay had sent a leave application to him and to state DAP chairperson Chow Kon Yeow.

“I did not approve his leave. Chow did not reply, but Koay did not ask about his leave and left for the US,” he added.

“Despite (instructions to attend the proceedings), he absented himself and, on that score, the party made the complaint.”

In a related development, Koay expressed shock over an Utusan Malaysia text-message this afternoon claiming that he had quit the party to become an Independent representative.

"The reporter did not attend my press conference," he said when contacted.

"Circulating such a SMS in this moment clearly shows that that it is political motivated. I am consulting my lawyer and reserve the right to sue."