DAP leader 'forced' to quit for praising CM

Peeved with his party colleagues upset with him for praising Malacca Chief Minister Idris Haron, DAP's Goh Leong San has decided to quit as state opposition leader.

It is learnt that the two who were unhappy with him for showering accolades on the chief minister are Ayer Keroh assemblyperson Khoo Poay Tiong and Kota Laksamana assemblyperson Lai Kuen Ban.

Claiming that the situation forced him to tender his resignation, the DAP state chief (right) told Malaysiakini that he "could no longer represent the opposition pact".

Goh lamented that he has got “nothing to say” to the duo, does not share same stand and is unable to work with them anymore.

The Duyong assemblyperson also claimed that Khoo and Lai, whom he did not name, had kicked up a fuss over his opening remarks in the Malacca state assembly.

He further accused his two colleagues of wanting to topple him “by fair means or foul”, with the acquiescence of the party central leadership.

After tendering his resignation, Goh is leaving the party to decide on his replacement as state opposition leader.

Nevertheless, he stressed that he would not quit the party and would remain in the party “to expose the abuses inside the party”.

“This is a tactic by villains. I will not get trapped. I (still) want to safeguard the rights of the people, I want to speak for the people,” Goh added.

Khoo and Lai when contacted by Malaysiakini later today refused to comment on this matter, saying that they has just become aware of Goh’s resignation.

‘Goh pissed off colleagues by praising CM’

According to Malay daily Berita Harian, Goh had described Haron as "knowledgeable, well-read and systematic".

He also said the Umno leader had a clear mission to develop the state and its people.

"I wish to commend the CM for his intelligence and maturity to accept the views and suggestions of the opposition. Being fluent in English, Arabic and Japanese, I am certain that Malacca will achieve its vision under his leadership.

 "Although I have known him only for four months, the chief minister is a rational person," Goh is quoted as saying.

Subsequently, Lai and Khoo (left) held a press conference at which they said that the praise of Haron was Goh’s personal statement and they vowed to make a clean cut with him.

Lai later issued a statement criticising Goh, saying that it was not DAP’s culture and practice to have reciprocity with BN.

However, Nanyang Siang Pau later reported Goh’s response. He said the government should be praised if it did something good and vice-versa, adding that opposition representatives cannot go against everybody who is from the opposition.

Meanwhile, coming out in support of Goh, Bachang assemblyperson Lim Jak Wong tendered his resignation as state opposition whip.

Conforming this with Malaysiakini today, Lim said he had handed over his resignation letter to DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh as well as to secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Lim said he should back Goh as both of them were appointed for the posts related to the state assembly.

Asked the reason for his resignation, Lim explained that he would not be able to work with another DAP assemblyperson.

'No plan to quit party posts'

He said that assemblyperson had slammed him and a third DAP assemblyperson for not making a stand on July 1, the date the state assembly appointed its speaker.

In fact, Lim (left) explained, all the six DAP assemblypersons had reached a consensus, neither agreeing with nor opposing the motion to elect Othman Muhamad as speaker.

Lim questioned the intention of that assemblyperson for making fiery remarks against them in September, two months after the opening of the state assembly.

However, Lim, who is also Malacca DAP deputy chairperson, said he and Goh had no plans to resign from their party posts or even resign from the party.

The Malacca DAP is now torn into two factions, with the state leadership seemingly not getting along with the central leadership.

The state leadership is said to be unhappy with the central leadership for putting Lai to contest the Kota Laksamana state seat, where DAP veteran Sim Tong Him, who is aligned with Goh, went against party’s decision to stand there as an Independent.

The episode ended with Sim withdrawing from the contest and the state leadership finally agreeing to Lai defending Kota Laksamana for DAP, after mediation by the party’s veteran Lim Kit Siang.