DAP rep vows never to back Umno candidate as Perak MB

 

Pokok Assam assemblyperson Leow Thye Yih has distanced himself from the position of Perak DAP chairperson Nga Kor Ming who said that the party is ready to work with anyone, including Umno for the good of the people.

Leow (above) said that under no circumstances will he consider backing an Umno candidate for Perak menteri besar.

"I first decided to join DAP in 2009 because, at that time, BN which was led by Umno had overthrown the elected Pakatan Rakyat Perak government. The event was a black money history that I will never forget.

"Then our country made history in the 14th general election in 2018, where Pakatan Harapan manage to defeat the BN government with the strong support of the people and for the first time formed the federal government and several state governments.

"However, Umno again this year had (helped to) seize the Harapan federal government, Perak state government and several other Harapan state administrations," he said in a statement today.

Leow pointed out that such actions by Umno in the past violated the people's mandate. 

"Both events reminded me that I will not support any candidate from Umno as the next menteri besar of Perak," he added.

Leow called on his DAP comrades, especially Perak DAP assemblypersons, to support his stand and subsequently reject any menteri besar candidate from Umno. 

Nga (below) had told Malaysiakini today that Perak DAP is willing to work with Umno in the interests of the people and to form a stable state government.

He said this when asked to comment on Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's earlier remarks that the latter was talking to all parties about forming a new coalition state government.

"In the best interests of the people, Perak DAP is ready to work with any party that can help to form a multiracial, strong and stable government.

"I am open for any constructive discussion. We are ready," the Teluk Intan MP said.

This is not the first time Leow has taken a position which is at odds with Nga.

In September last year, along with Malim Nawar assemblyperson Leong Cheok Keng, Leow announced his resignation from the Perak DAP committee as a result of dissatisfaction with Nga over the status of Perak executive councillor Paul Yong, who was facing rape charges in court.

Leong and Leow resigned as deputy treasurer and assistant secretary of Perak DAP respectively, in protest after Nga had said that appropriate action would be taken against the DAP state lawmaker, depending on the circumstances.

Yong eventually quit DAP and defected to support Ahmad Faizal Azumu's new Perikatan Nasional government.

Meanwhile, Perak PKR chief Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak also confirmed that he had met with Umno leaders to discuss the possible formation of a new state government.

He said that PKR was open to the partnership with Umno but only as a bloc with its Harapan partners DAP and Amanah.

Given that Umno and DAP are the two largest parties in the 59-seat Perak state assembly, with 25 and 16 seats respectively, this leaves open the possibility of arguably the most unlikely coalition state government in Malaysian political history.

Other parties in the state assembly include Bersatu (five), Amanah (five), PKR (three), PAS (three), Gerakan (one) and one independent.

Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah announced earlier today that he had accepted the resignation of outgoing menteri besar Faizal and his exco line-up following a defeat in a vote of confidence that was mooted by Umno.

Zahid said after his audience with the sultan that he would soon present him with a list of suggested names for the state's top post. - Mkini