Gerakan asks DAP leaders to state their stand on party-hopping

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GEORGE TOWN: Gerakan yesterday called on DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng and Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to state their stand on the party-hopping involving UMNO leaders to join Pakatan Harapan.

Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong said whether the two DAP’s leaders agreed with the action of its ally, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), accepting so many Umno’s MPs while DAP previously had been objecting MP’s hopping to the extent of passing an anti-hopping law in Penang in 2012.

“Currently, there are many UMNO’s MPs preparing to make the jump into Pakatan Harapan via Bersatu. However, this time, DAP leaders have decided to remain silent on the issue. Does the DAP still has any of its own political principles.

“At the same time, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang was also reportedly to be supporting such a move and this will cause uneasiness amongst the people. This is a betrayal to the voters who have supported DAP all along as it made them look ridiculous,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

He said the people could now see clearly that the DAP is willing to sacrifice their party’s principles and morale for the sake of preserving their own political interests.

Oh, who is also Penang Gerakan chairman, said DAP leaders would either remain silent or mimic Kit Siang by expressing support on the defection of Umno MP’s for the sake of their own interests.

“I would like to ask DAP leaders where are your principles? Has it been sacrificed for the sake of your own personal interest? Or the DAP has just evolved into an unprincipled party,” he added.

He said Penang was the second state which passed an anti-hopping law and since the incumbent of Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya whom have quit Umno and seems to be on the verge of joining Bersatu, is the Penang state government going to use this law on Shabudin or just let the matter slide.

“Does the law still have legality or Pakatan Harapan is merely using this legislation as a sideshow in the first place,” he said.

Shabudin is one of the six of Umno MPs in the peninsula who quit the party last Friday.

The others are Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (MP for Tanah Merah); Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin (Larut); Datuk Rosol Wahid (Hulu Terengganu); Datuk Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (Sabak Bernam) and Datuk Dr Latiff Ahmad (Mersing).

Last week, there was an exodus of elected representatives and divisional leaders from Sabah Umno. — Bernama