MALACCA: DAP has suffered a devastating blow after three of its assemblymen and party stalwart, the member of Parliament for Kota Melaka, tendered their resignations amidst a widening rift within the opposition party here.
The four are Kota Melaka MP Sim Tong Him, Bachang assemblyman Lim Jak Wong, Kesidang assemblyman Chin Choon Seong and Duyong assemblyman Goh Leong San, who announced they were quitting as DAP members effective today.
In a press conference at the Kota Melaka service centre in Kota Laksamana here today, the four said their decision was made after due consideration and was not hasty.
"After due consideration and serious thought, with much regret, I have lost confidence and am greatly disappointed with (Lim Guan Eng) and (his) national leadership in handling both internal and external party issues.
"I also (cannot) accept and go along with the stand and so-called new political alignment the DAP has taken lately," Sim said in a letter written to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng today.
The three assemblymen also expressed their disappointment over the party's loss of direction and its swerve from their original struggle.
They added that they will not be joining any other political party, be it on the government or opposition side – but did not rule out contesting as independent candidates in the next general election.