Perak DAP chief under fire over Umno support

(FMT) – Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming is reported to be facing challenges to his leadership from assembly members unhappy over his apparent willingness to link up with Umno last week.

Malim Nawar assemblyman Leong Cheok Keng said Nga was no longer qualified to serve as Perak DAP leader because of his “political mistake” over Umno, according to a Malaysiakini report.

“I sincerely advise him to call for a special congress meeting to confirm if he still has majority support,” Leong was quoted as saying.

In response, Nga said DAP would solve its problems internally and not through personal attacks in public.

Speculation about a possible Umno tie-up with the DAP or its partners in Pakatan Harapan had arisen after a confidence motion in support of Ahmad Faizal Azumu was defeated by 48 votes to 10 in the state assembly.

Umno has 25 seats in the 59-member assembly, five short of a majority. DAP has 16 seats, while PH partners Amanah has 5 and PKR 3.

Nga had responded to Umno’s speculation by saying that DAP was willing to forge an alliance in order to form a stable and multiracial state government.

Leong said that Nga’s move was unacceptable as he “chose to work with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who he once described as a thief,” he was quoted as saying.

Umno later formed a new state government with PPBM and PAS, its partners in Perikatan Nasional, after Zahid apologised for the “mistake” in voting against Faizal.