PRAI: Former Kampung Jawa Auto City DAP branch chief David Marshel, 47, will contest in the forthcoming state election for the Perai state seat as an independent.
He quit yesterday after being with the party for 15 years and described it as a difficult decision, but he had to do it to save DAP from party national chairman, Lim Guan Eng.
"This is the saddest day of my life. I have been with the party for 15 years, fought alongside it, and now I have to leave. It pains me.
"But I am willing to sacrifice myself for the good of the party. No one dared to speak up against Lim all this while. I am here to do it.
"So all this is against one man, Lim Guan Eng. There will be more exposure," he said, choking with emotions.
He was met at former Perai assemblyman Dr P. Ramasamy's service centre here today.
David said he had been keeping it to himself all this while but said he was now prepared to speak up to save the party, which he so loved.
He said the last straw which broke the camel's back was the recent DAP candidate selection for the state election.
David said he had been devoting his time to the party wholeheartedly, since 2008, even more than his own family.
He, however, said all of his sacrifices were not appreciated, not by the current party secretary-general (Anthony Loke) or the previous secretary-general (Lim).
"I love this party but I don't love Lim Guan Eng. Every time he speaks, he will sound encouraging. But deep down, he is bad hearted (hati busuk).
"So, I have given it a thorough thought. I will contest as an independent candidate for Prai in the upcoming state election.
"And my tagline will be 'Save Penang from Lim Guan Eng'," he added.
David said he decided to contest, not for his own interest, but to support caretaker Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow as the chief minister after the state election.
He said he was also contacted by his comrades in DAP, who agreed with what he was doing, but dared not speak up themselves.
"I know I am at a disadvantage as the whole state machinery will be against me. It is okay. I have the support of the various non-governmental organisations (NGO) and non-Malay associations and organisations behind me.
"Chow can be attacking me during campaigning… I understand that. But I will continue to support him no matter what," he said.
David also revealed a plot to oust Chow as the state DAP chairman and subsequently chief minister.
"I have been with the party long enough to know the 'goings-on'.
"DAP will have its party elections next year. They will attempt to bring Chow down as state chairman. That is why they are replacing everyone with Lim Guan Eng's men.
"They will then amend the state constitution to allow for him (Lim) to possibly return as the chief minister again.
"Otherwise, why should he put all his men now? We cannot allow this to happen at all costs," he said, adding that between him and former Bagan Dalam assemblyman, M. Satees, they still had influence in another 30 to 40 DAP branches.
David said he had asked the members in the branches not to follow his footsteps to leave the party but to stay on to support Chow in the party elections.
David also accused Lim of not wanting people who could work for the party but rather those who could praise him.
"DAP is very different now from what I knew back in 2008.
"In the last general election, we hit out at Barisan Nasional, particularly Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for his court cases. Now, DAP is embracing him," he said.
He also expressed disappointment that none of the DAP lawyers had come to his aid but were always there helping Lim.
It was reported that Penang DAP had joined in the state PKR's major shake-up, with seven new faces fielded in the upcoming state election.
Five DAP state executive council members were dropped, namely caretaker Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P.Ramasamy, Wanita DAP chief Chong Eng, Phee Boon Poh, Yeoh Soon Hin and Soon Lip Chee.
Ramasamy, Chong, Phee, Yeoh and Soon would be replaced by Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo for the Prai state seat; Gooi Zi Sen (Padang Lalang); Phee Syn Tze (Sungai Puyu); Wong Hon Wai (Paya Terubong) and Chee Yeeh Keen (Bagan Jermal), respectively.
Also dropped were Satees and former Pulau Tikus assemblyman Chris Lee Chun Kit. Lee cited health reasons.
Chow will be defending his Padang Kota seat while Lim his Air Putih seat.
DAP will contest in 19 of the 40 state seats this time, similar to the 14th general election (GE14).
NST has contacted Lim Guan Eng for comment and is awaiting his response.