DAP facing full-blown crisis
Standing strong: Goh (left) and Lim’s resignations are seen as an open declaration against the pro-Guan Eng faction.
(The Star) – The feud between rival DAP factions here has erupted into a full-blown crisis with state chief Goh Leong San quitting as Opposition leader and threatening to open a “Pandora’s Box” of wrongdoings.
The bad blood between assemblymen who are either pro or anti party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had been simmering since the May general election.
Saying that he was being forced to expose wrongdoings of certain assemblymen and abuse of the state party funds, the Duyong assemblyman said:
“I can no longer tolerate it. I will expose everything it if there are attempts to force me to relinquish my position (as state chairmen) unfairly and without concrete grounds.”
Goh said he had lost patience with “certain central leaders” for constantly poking their noses into state party affairs.
Goh’s deputy and Bachang assemblyman, Lim Jak Wong, joined him by quitting as deputy state opposition leader.
The resignation letters of Goh and Jak Wong were sent to the Malacca legislative assembly and DAP chairman Karpal Singh yesterday.
The moves are being seen as an open declaration against the pro-Guan Eng faction.
Goh who has had long standing differences with Guan Eng, said his main reason for resigning was the central leadership’s meddling in state party affairs.
He said among the issues involved the Jonker Street night market and the state DAP’s working relationship with new Chief Minister Datuk Wira Idris Haron.
Goh has also implied that the party might try to oust him as state chairman, in the wake of criticism of his leadership by two reputed to be staunch supporters of Guan Eng – Khoo Poay Tiong (Ayer Keroh) and Lai Kuen Ban (Kota Laksamana)
Goh came under fire from Khoo and Lai after he described Idris as “approachable” and “a professional manager” during the recent assembly sitting.
Lai had also accused Goh of not showing support when the former was ejected from the assembly over the Jonker Street issue.
Goh said he was also ready to expose the “interference” from these central leaders in the selection of candidates in the general election, saying that he had documents to back his claims.
The latest fallout is a continuation of the crisis which almost derailed the DAP campaign during the general election when state and central party leadership quarrelled over candidates list, forcing party adviser Lim Kit Siang to personally intervene to resolve the deadlock.
There is also much bitterness between Goh and Guan Eng, dating back to the years when Guan Eng was still active in Malacca DAP.
