Although Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim intervened to ease tensions and urged Malacca DAP to reconsider its decision to leave the state government, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the party would not reverse the resignations.
Loke said he had already conveyed DAP’s position to Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairperson, adding that the party’s central leadership respected and supported the Malacca chapter’s decision.
The standoff follows the Malacca state legislative assembly’s passage of a constitutional amendment bill to allow the appointment of unelected assemblypersons.
In protest, Malacca DAP announced that its four assemblypersons would resign from all government positions and withdraw from the state administration.
Anwar had earlier called on the DAP assemblypersons to defer their decision, saying disputes should not disrupt the state government’s ability to serve the public.
He urged them to first seek a resolution with Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh.
However, Loke said the decision was final.
“The situation is as it is. This decision has been made, and it is difficult to reverse the entire situation or circumstance.
“It is impossible for us to change our position (on appointing assemblypersons), and the state assembly has already voted and placed it on record.
“We already opposed it (the constitutional amendment bill) in the state assembly. According to democratic principles, resigning is the most appropriate decision,” said the Chennah assemblyperson.
Central leadership backing
Loke said Malacca DAP chairperson Khoo Poay Tiong had informed the party’s central executive committee of the decision on July 13, before the state assembly vote.
“We had already decided to cast opposing votes during the (state assembly) voting process. We have four assemblypersons in Malacca. One of them is an executive councillor and a member of the government. According to general principles, they must support the government’s stance.
“Since we do not support this government motion, the general principle dictates resigning from government posts and stepping down.
“We made this decision upholding this principle, and the DAP central leadership absolutely respects and supports this decision by Malacca DAP,” Loke added.
Harapan split over exit
The constitutional amendment bill was passed yesterday, prompting Malacca DAP to immediately announce its withdrawal from the state government.
Malacca PKR said it respected the right of Harapan assemblypersons to express their views but disagreed with leaving the government, adding that such a move had not been agreed upon by the Malacca Harapan leadership.
The four DAP assemblypersons sat on the opposition benches during today’s state assembly sitting, while Malacca Harapan chairperson Adly Zahari, who is the Bukit Katil assemblyperson, remained on the government side.
Sorry, no returns
Separately, Rauf said there was no room for further negotiations anyway after the state government received the DAP assemblypersons' resignation letters yesterday.
Malaysia Gazette quoted the chief minister as saying the letters were submitted immediately after DAP's press conference.
“That is why when the prime minister asked for negotiations, I said negotiations were no longer possible because they had already submitted all the letters,” Rauf said at a press conference today after the last day of the Malacca state legislative assembly session.
Asked whether Malacca BN was prepared to reopen negotiations following Adly’s statement that the coalition would hold a meeting tomorrow to determine its position, Rauf said it depends.
“We will wait and see. I dare not say whether it is yes or no. Whatever they want to do, but following DAP’s announcement that it no longer wants to cooperate with this government, we have accepted it.
“How can they withdraw and then want to retract? But it is up to Harapan. We have also received a letter from PKR stating that it does not want to and perhaps does not agree with the move taken by DAP,” he added.
On whether the crisis would affect preparations ahead of the state polls, Rauf said each party should assess its own strengths instead of blaming one another.
“We need to have a mature political environment. Why should we fight until our own house collapses? We should each know how to chart our own course.
“Every party knows its own strengths and weaknesses, so we need to measure ourselves because we know where we are strong and where we are weak,” he said. - Mkini
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