DAP firm with stand to reject four Malacca party hoppers

2 Nov 2021

By Nur Syafidah Abdullah

KUALA LUMPUR: The DAP Central Executive Committee (CEC) has unanimously resolved to reject all four Malacca Assemblymen that had earlier withdrawn support for the then state chief minister Datuk Sulaiman Md Ali from being nominated as Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidates for the coming state polls on Nov 20.

DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng said opposition leader cum PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had publicly stated that two of the four assemblymen from UMNO are still being considered.

“DAP has been consistent in defending our principles, ideals and integrity that PH must distance itself from ‘kleptocrats, opportunists and crooks’ to maintain and not lose the moral high ground.

“It has been said that to achieve victory in Malacca, we must tactically join with anyone that can give PH victory. However, the ends do not justify the means, particularly when their commitment towards genuine political reforms that benefit the people and nation is suspect,” he said in a statement today.

According to Guan Eng, DAP has unfortunately been previously outvoted within PH by PKR and Amanah, and is compelled to abide by the majority decision in the interest of coalition unity.

“However, this does not mean that such a majority decision previously made is correct. DAP hopes that good sense will prevail within PH and urges our PH allies to choose those who are sincere towards the aspirations of PH and not those motivated by sheer political opportunism.

“PH must not make the same mistake again by losing the moral high ground to allow the final two of the four Assemblymen to stand as PH candidates in the Malacca state election.”

Malacca State Assembly was dissolved on Octo 4 following the actions of four assemblymen, namely Datuk Seri Idris Haron (UMNO-Sungai Udang), Datuk Nor Azman Hassan (UMNO-Pantai Kundor), Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Bebas-Pengkalan Batu) and Datuk Noor Effandi Ahmad (BERSATU-Telok Mas) who retracted support for the leadership of Sulaiman.