Two months after quitting from DAP, Bahau state assemblyperson Lim Fui Ming today decided to join MCA, a party he left nearly 20 years ago.

MCA president Ong Ka Ting announced the admission of Lim at a party function in Seremban today.

Chinese daily China Press quoted Lim as saying that he returned to the MCA because he was attracted by Ong's leadership style.

"Moreover, MCA practices leadership by example and implements policies that benefit the party, thus creating a healthy political culture," Lim said, adding that his decision was supported by most of the Bahau voters.

Lim resigned from DAP on Jan 9, claiming that he has been 'sidelined and oppressed' by his party colleagues.

The 61-year-old politician, who crossed over from MCA to DAP in 1988, won the Chinese-majority Bahau state seat after his third attempt on the DAP ticket.

Initially, he promised to serve his constituency as an independent assemblyperson until the next general election.

Meanwhile, DAP Negeri Sembilan state chief Loke Siew Fook described Lim as a 'political frog'.

"He has betrayed not only DAP but the people of Bahau who voted him on the DAP ticket," Loke said when contacted today.

He appealed to Bahau voters to reject Lim in the next election.

"Voters cannot allow such people to become a leader. He cannot be trusted," Loke added.

With Lim joining MCA, Loke remains the sole DAP representative in the Negeri Sembilan state assembly.

Chen very disappointed

According to China Press, Lim's mentor Dr Chen Man Hin appeared distraught when asked to comment on Lim's defection.

"I'm really disappointed and sad," Chen said.

Lim has served as Chen's political secretary and is currently a manager in a company where Chen has investments.

Meanwhile, sources told malaysiakini that both MCA and PKR had tried to lobby Lim after he resigned from the DAP.

Lim's admission into the MCA is also said to have made MCA Rembau division chief See Ah Kow and his supporters very unhappy.

Lim defeated See in the last election by a small majority of 642 votes.

Although MCA president Ong Ka Ting did not reveal whether Lim will defend his seat in Bahau, two DAP assemblypersons who crossed over to MCA before Lim - Lee Yuen Fong (Temiang) and Khoo Seng Hock (Lobak) - had been assigned to defend their own seats.

If Lim was given Bahau to defend in the next elections, See's clout in the constituency and position in the party would be affected..

See and his supporters had openly criticised Lim after he announced his resignation from DAP.