'Glad I lost to a good man': Ex-DAP state chief tips Umno rival as potential Malacca CM

Former Malacca DAP chairperson Damian Yeo has described his former Umno electoral rival as “a good man” and tipped him as someone who could one day lead the state as chief minister.

Yeo, who narrowly lost the Duyong state seat to Noor Helmy Abdul Halem by about 200 votes in the 2021 state election, said he was glad that he lost to someone he regarded highly.

“Politics can be strange sometimes. In the 2021 state election, I lost Duyong by just about 200 votes. But looking back, I can genuinely say that I am glad that if I had to lose, I lost to a good man.

“Helmy is someone whom I believe has the potential, one day, to lead Malacca as its chief minister,” he said in a recent Facebook post.

Yeo described Helmy as well-loved by the people, approachable, and grounded, qualities that mattered greatly in public service.

“And putting politics and party colours aside, if I were simply an ordinary voter looking objectively at the candidates, I personally would have voted for him too,” he added.

Public service above winning, losing

Yeo also reminded that elections would always produce winners and losers, but public service should not be solely about winning elections.

“It should also be about recognising good people when we see them, even when they happen to sit on the other side,” he said.

Yeo made the remarks after meeting Helmy at a wedding in Malacca.

“Good catching up again, YB. Politics aside, friendship and mutual respect remain,” Yeo added.

In reply, Helmy thanked Yeo for the praise and the latter’s work for the people in Duyong.

“I am grateful to have been helped by many people, including you. The changes in Duyong are the result of the efforts you made when you were in office, and I am merely continuing them.

“I hope our cooperation can continue,” Helmy added.

Voice of reason

Helmy was previously praised for taking a more measured approach during the controversy over upside-down Jalur Gemilang flags last year.

While some politicians, including his fellow Malacca state assemblyperson and Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, took a hardline stance on the incidents, Helmy instead sought to establish how one of the flags could have ended up inverted.

In a video shared on Facebook, Helmy posted CCTV footage from Texas Instruments’ factory in Malacca showing a Jalur Gemilang that had been hung correctly being dislodged and flipped upside down by strong winds.

He also shared a photograph of another flag that had become inverted after being partially dislodged from its pole.

Helmy’s post came after a photograph of an upside-down Jalur Gemilang at the factory went viral, prompting a wider controversy over the display of the national flag.

His approach was praised by DAP leaders, with Pakatan Harapan and DAP Youth chief Woo Kah Leong describing it as an example of mature politics.

Then Malacca assembly deputy speaker Kerk Chee Yee also praised Helmy and said Akmal should learn from his example.

Merlimau state assemblyperson Akmal has been one of the main individuals drumming up sentiments, which culminated in a rally outside a hardware store in Penang where one of the flag gaffes occurred.

Akmal and others also resorted to race-baiting language in their criticisms, as both incidents involved Chinese Malaysians.

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