GEORGE TOWN: Penang DAP party leaders have been told to distance themselves from those who defect and betray the party.
State DAP organising secretary Jason H'ng Mooi Lye also called on party members to remain united and to avoid making baseless accusations that could divide the party.
He also expressed disappointment over the action of one of the independent candidates 'who has been using the service center of a former state assemblyman and the party's resources to hold a press conference to attack and discredit the party and its leaders'.
"This is not the time for us to fight among ourselves. The people of Penang need a united government, a competent government and a government that protects all citizens, regardless of race or religion.
"This struggle is much bigger and more important than the personal agenda of any party. Therefore, we must strengthen our spirit and unite to prevent Perikatan Nasional from capturing Penang.
"Any party member who supports and campaigns for the opposition candidates, including independent candidates, is considered to affect the interests of our party and will be subjected to disciplinary action, including being stripped off their membership immediately.
On July 27, former Kampung Jawa Auto City DAP branch chief David Marshel, 47, announced that he had quit DAP and would contest in the state election for the Perai state seat as an independent.
He had held the press conference at former Perai assemblyman Dr P. Ramasamy's service centre.
The following day, former Bagan Dalam assemblyman M. Satees too announced that he would contest in the Bagan Dalam state seat in the state election as an independent candidate.
He had held the press conference at his former service centre.
Both had made numerous allegations against the party, including national chairman Lim Guan Eng.
H'ng said every decision made by the party leadership was not easy but was important for the future of Penang.
"I am deeply saddened and disappointed by all the baseless accusations that have been made against the party and the leadership without any motion for investigation," he added.
Meanwhile, Satees, in a separate statement, said he was disappointed with Hng's statement, which sounded like he and David were betraying the party.
He said, for sure, they were being controlled by an 'emperor', who was betraying the people of Penang and the party itself.
"An individual is using his position to manipulate the party with the aim of controlling the administration of the state, contrary to the principles we have fought for all this time.
"No one in DAP dare to rebuke or stop him, but instead accuse those of us who speak up as betraying the party. We can keep quiet and expect a reward from the emperor, but we choose to risk ourselves and fight for the sake of Penang and also to free the party from the emperor's grip.
"We are not against the DAP party or other Pakatan Harapan candidates, our focus is only to save Penang from the emperor and his potential cronies.
"I remind H'ng, don't get carried away by the emperor's insistence and open a new battlefield for us to enter to campaign," he said.