Melaka DAP announces withdrawal from state government, resignation from all positions held in BN-led administration
"We rejected the motion and as a responsible party, we cannot at the same time reject a government motion while remaining in the government and continuing to use all government facilities."
MELAKA - Melaka DAP announced its immediate withdrawal from the state government after the Melaka State Legislative Assembly (DUN) passed an amendment to the State Constitution enabling the appointment of appointed state assemblymen on Tuesday.
Its chairman Khoo Poay Tiong said the decision is in line with the party's stance rejecting the bill, which it claimed contravenes democratic and electoral principles.
He said all DAP elected representatives holding posts in the state government administration will relinquish their respective positions, including one Exco member, two deputy Exco members as well as the DUN deputy speaker.
"We rejected the motion and as a responsible party, we cannot at the same time, reject a government motion while remaining in the government and continuing to use all government facilities.
"On the principle of electoral democracy, we will withdraw from the Melaka state government immediately," he said at a press conference at Seri Negeri here on Tuesday.
Khoo, who is also Kota Melaka Member of Parliament, said DAP is of the view that state assemblymen should be chosen through elections and not appointed, as an appointed individual holds voting rights in the state assemblymen.
He said if the government requires the services of professionals or experts, they could be appointed as advisers without needing to be given state assemblymen status.
He stressed that the appointed state assemblymen mechanism contravenes democratic principles as elected representatives should be chosen by the people, not appointed.
Meanwhile, he said the resignations only involve posts in the state government administration and do not affect their standing as state assemblymen.
"The four DAP state assemblymen remain as elected representatives but will relinquish their posts as Exco member, deputy Exco members and deputy speaker.
"They will also move from the government bloc to the opposition bloc at the next state assemblymen sitting," he said.
He said all DAP political appointees within the state government, including councillors, will also relinquish their respective posts in the near future.
He said letters of resignation have been prepared and will be submitted to the relevant parties on the same day.
Download Sinar Daily application.Click Here!
