While outspoken ex-DAP man Shamsher Thind Singh has offered himself to stand as an independent in the coming general election, his former colleagues have challenged him to contest against a DAP seat.

Shamsher, now a well-known critic of DAP and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, told Malaysiakini that if people want to vote BN or Pakatan Harapan, "please go ahead".

"But if they are fed up, they can boycott or undi rosak (spoil their votes)," said the PhD holder in criminology from Universiti Sains Malaysia.

"If they want the third option, then I am willing to contest, provided they must give me their blessings by funding my expenses because it is for them I am standing election.

"This is more of a challenge rather than I want to contest."

Shamsher, who quit DAP in December 2016, had cited Dr Mahathir Mohamad's leadership in Harapan as one of the main reasons for his decision.

He also hinted that he may contest in Bukit Tengah, where he had done a bit of work defending evicted residents in the mainland constituency, which is currently held by PKR's Ong Chin Wen.

In response, Seberang Perai municipal councillor David Marshel said Shamsher used to be a friend but now that he wants to fight a Harapan candidate, he is known to them as "a political opponent".

He urged Shamsher to contest against a DAP candidate if he dares, since he has been criticising the party and leadership. 

Marshel offered him to contest in Perai, where Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy is the incumbent.

"And please stop saying you are an ex-DAP man and ask the press to stop labelling you as such. Why ride on DAP to make yourself popular?" he asked.

Seberang Perai councillor Satees Muniandy urged Shamsher to come clean and say for which BN party he is contesting and where he is getting his funds.

"Let us see your account and please be transparent. If you want to criticise us in the DAP, make sure you yourself are above board or you'll just be labelled a BN agent," added the Batu Kawan DAP secretary.