GEORGE TOWN, Oct 31 — Outspoken Penang state lawmaker Teh Yee Cheu is firm on leaving the DAP once the state assembly dissolves to pave way for the 14th general elections.
However, the Tanjung Bungah assemblyman assured his party that he would not cross over to any other party, whether in the Pakatan Harapan alliance or the Barisan Nasional (BN) state Opposition coalition.
“To put the DAP committee’s worries at rest, I will not contest as an independent candidate too,” he told a news conference at his service centre here today.
Asked if he would defend his seat under another party, Teh said it is inappropriate for him to reply for now.
“Let’s wait for the state assembly to be dissolved first so now I will concentrate on serving my constituency,” he said.
Teh has been at loggerheads with party leaders in recent years, especially on hillslope development issues which saw a landslide in his constituency October 21 that killed 11 people.
He said he had been mulling resigning from DAP since 2013.
He claimed both the DAP leadership and the DAP-led state government refuses to accept criticisms against them but have instead criticised certain groups for just “being friendly with BN leaders”.
“I started thinking about leaving DAP in 2013 because of so many issues that were unresolved; the transgender issue, term limitation issue, hill development, local plan and structure plan.
“Now, after so many incidents, especially the recent landslide, I feel there’s a difference in the ideology of the party policy, I don’t see the socialist practice anymore,” he added.
Teh who joined the DAP in 2000 said he has not made a decision on what he will do next, but stressed he won’t be retiring from politics and will continue fighting for social justice for the people.
“There are many other platforms to fight for the people, but I feel the politics platform is still the best,” he said.
He disclosed that he has been approached by the Malaysian United Party and the Penang Front Party to join them.
“I can’t announce which party I may join because I still have to serve my term as an assemblyman until it was dissolved,” he said.
