BUTTERWORTH: Former Bagan Dalam assemblyman M. Satees will contest in the Bagan Dalam state seat in the upcoming state election as an independent candidate.
Announcing this at a press conference at his service centre here today, Satees said he sent a letter to quit DAP to party secretary-general Anthony Loke this morning.
"This is a very difficult decision for me to make. It pained me to leave DAP after 15 years. You don't know the amount of tears I shed writing the letter.
"I may know my wife for only 10 years but I have known DAP for 15 years. Many of the people there are like families to me.
"But I have to do this to save Penang from a tyrant, dictator and emperor, who is set to destroy Penang.
"To my friends in DAP, don't hate me for doing this. I have nothing against any of you. My fight is just with one man — the emperor," he said.
His announcement came 24 hours after former Batu Kawan DAP leader David Marshel announced his decision to quit from DAP and to contest in the Prai state seat as an independent candidate in the state election.
Satees said people might say that his decision to quit the party and contest as an independent was because he was not fielded as a candidate in this state election.
"That is not the reason at all. Believe me.
"I cannot just watch how this emperor had things his way and thinks Penang belongs to his father.
"I want to tell him. Enough is enough. I will fight you," he added, noting that by being in DAP, his hands were tied and was not at liberty to speak certain things.
Satees said even his mentor in DAP, caretaker Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy and other party comrades had persuaded him to rethink his decision.
"But I have given this a long, hard thought. I have made my decision and my theme will be 'Penang, Kita Punya'.
"I just want to get rid of this tyrant, this emperor.
"I know many of my friends in DAP also agree with me but dare not support me openly or (otherwise) risk having the emperor making life difficult for them," he said.
Satees also warned that if the emperor continued to have his way after the state elections, Penang would face a political conflict.
"Let me be very clear. A conflict is very imminent to disrupt Pakatan Harapan," he reiterated.
Satees said, if given the chance to win, he would pledge his support for caretaker Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
"I will never ever join Perikatan Nasional (PN).
"I just want to make sure Chow continues to lead Penang. It is okay if I can't fight for him from within. I will do so outside. If there is any vote of no confidence against Chow after this, I will vote against it.
"The emperor must know that he cannot be an emperor forever. He must know that Penang belongs to the people and not his father.
"And the people must know that they have more choices, not only between an emperor or the green wave, but a third force in me. I will continue to fight for the people," he noted.
Satees said he was not entering the race to lose but to secure victory.
Satees also revealed that the emperor had also decided on the state executive council members line-up even before the Pakatan Harapan - Barisan Nasional coalition retained power in Penang.
He said the emperor was looking at being named the senior exco.
"You can ask the emperor to deny it. It is so very shameful that the emperor wants to decide the direction of Penang and the state government.
"I can tell you now that whatever rumours you are hearing now are bound to come true. Just like the fake candidates' list prior to the Penang DAP candidates' announcement for the state election.
Meanwhile, Satees also advised his supporters to continue to stay in DAP to support Chow from within, especially during the party elections next March.
"I know they are behind me and that is enough.
"Some of my followers are already being threatened and I don't want for more to face the same fate.
"I don't know why the emperor is so vindictive, so vicious," he said.