‘DAP not a party for Malays’

Malay rights leader ‘disillusioned’ with Lim’s leadership

GEORGE TOWN: A Malay rights leader who joined the DAP in June last year has quit, saying he is convinced the party is not for the Malays.

Slicing a DAP membership card to symbolise he has cut ties with the party, Penang Malay Congress president Rahmad Isahak said he was disillusioned with the leadership of secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

“The DAP portrays itself as a multi-racial party but, in actual fact, it is not. It is not a party for the Malays,” he said at a press conference here yesterday.

“The small group of Malays in it is there so

If the CEC was in question, then how can my termination be valid? — RAHMAD ISAHAK

that the party can use the multi-racial tag.

“There is not even a seat for the Malays in the 19 state seats that the DAP contested in Penang in the general election,” said Rahmad, questioning if there is a “legacy of Malays” over the 47 years that the DAP had existed.

Asked if he was one of the 17 members sacked in April, he said the sacking was not valid because the central executive committee (CEC) was not recognised by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) at that time.

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

“If the CEC was in question, then how can 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 – had remained loyal and contributed immensely to the party but were not given due recognition and attention.