IPOH, April 7 — Menglembu assemblyman Lim Pek Har has become the latest Perak DAP lawmaker to step down, after announcing that she will not be contesting the coming general election.

Lim, a two-term assemblyman, said she wanted to give a chance to the younger generation of leaders.

“I want to thank DAP and the voters for giving me the opportunity and trust to be an elected representative,” she told a press conference here.

The 52-year-old, who is also Perak DAP women’s chief, said she would continue to give her full support and cooperation to the party in her advisory role in the party’s state committee.

“I am stepping aside because I want to let the young people take over. Make no mistake, I will be giving my full cooperation and support to the new candidate in Menglembu,” Lim added.

She was the third DAP assemblyman to step down in Perak, after Keranji assemblyman Chen Fook Chye, 58, and Jelapang assemblyman Teh Hock Ke, 68, voluntarily decided not to seek re-election in late March.

A DAP member for over 20 years, Lim has held the Menglembu seat since 2008. She had earlier contested the neighbouring Tronoh state seat in 2004, where she lost to MCA’s Datuk Lee Kon Yin.

Perak DAP chairman Nga Kor Ming lauded Lim for her service as an assemblyman, praising her hard work and dedication to her constituents.

Nga, who also presented Lim with a bouquet of flowers during the press conference, said she was a leader who always served on the ground, and called her a shining example to other e party members.

“It wasn’t an easy decision for us and we are very grateful for everything she has done,” he said.

“She is one of the main pillars of Perak DAP, and she was so magnanimous in allowing the young talent to replace her.”

Nga said Lim had recommended her political secretary Steven Chaw Kam Foon as her replacement, adding that he was one of the candidates in consideration for the Menglembu seat.

On a separate matter, Nga announced that Perak Pakatan Harapan would be launching its manifesto for the election on April 10 in Ipoh’s Kinta Riverfront Hotel.

While the coalition will be announcing its manifesto together, Nga said each of the four coalition members would announce their candidate lists separately.

“The list of Perak DAP’s 25 candidates is 98 per cent completed, and we will make the announcement at the right time,” he said.