Penang Malay Congress president quits DAP

GEORGE TOWN - Penang Malay Congress president Rahmad Isahak, who is also a DAP member has quit the party describing his short stint with the party as tragic and the darkest period of his life.

Rahmad also felt disillusioned with the party’s leadership led by secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

“I have lost faith, especially towards the party’s secretary-general, therefore, I hereby announce that I quit the party with immediate effect.

“The party has always portrayed itself as a multi-racial party but in actual fact, it is not. The DAP is a not a party for Malays.

“The small group of Malays were merely used to live up to the party’s multi-racial tag. There is not even a seat for Malays in the 19 state seats the DAP contested during the last election in Penang.

“Where is the legacy of Malays in this party since its establishment 47 years ago,” said Rahmad who also cut his membership card with a pair of scissors at a press conference Saturday.

When asked whether he was one of the 17 members sacked from the party earlier, he said “yes”.

He, however, claimed that his sacking was not valid as the Central Executive Committee (CEC) was not recognised by the Registrar of Societies (RoS).

“My termination letter was dated April 24. However, ROS sent a letter to the DAP on April 17 that the validity of the CEC was in question after irregularities were detected in the party’s election last year.

“If the CEC is in question, then how could my termination be valid?” he asked.

Rahmad said several Malay leaders, among them former Johor DAP chief Ahmad Ton and former vice-chairman Zulkifli Mohd Noor, remained loyal and have contributed immensely to the party but were not given due recognition and attention.

For the party’s CEC re-election on Sunday, he urged delegates to help shed its image as a family-dominated party.

“If you choose, Lim Kit Siang, then we should reject his son Guan Eng. The same applies on DAP chairman Karpal Singh.”

By Tan Sin Chow