JAWI: Former DAP lawmaker Tan Beng Huat, who left the party to join the People's Alternative Party (PAP) today, has singled out DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang and his son, Guan Eng, as his main reason leaving.
Tan, a one-term Jawi assemblyman in 2008, claimed the senior Lim was a dictator bent on building a political dynasty in DAP.
He said there were talks within the party that Kit Siang aspires to be the prime minister, although the latter had consistently refuted such claims.
"We (party members) have heard on numerous occasions in the past that he (Kit Siang) harbours hope to lead the country. Now, I dread to imagine what will happen if he really succeeds in achieving his dream.
"Not only is he (Kit Siang) one who does not tolerate any dissent, he is also a real dictator. Just look at how he and his son treat those who spoke against them," he told the New Straits Times.
Tan said this was similar to Parti Pribumi Melayu Bersatu (PPBM) chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is only interested in ensuring his son, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, ascend into power in future.
"They are one and the same...only interested in building the family dynasty to fulfill their own political thirst." he added.
Earlier today, Tan along with 100 DAP members and supporters from the Jawi state constituency and Nibong Tebal parliamentary constituency handed over their membership forms to PAP president Zulkifli Mohd Noor and vice-president Rahmat Isahak.
They also cut their membership cards into pieces to symbolise their severed ties with DAP.
Speaking at a press conference, Tan said his decision to leave DAP was a "right choice", and urged his other comrades to join him in the "exodus" to a new political platform.
He said this would serve a lesson to the DAP leadership on what is happening in the party.
"Unlike previously, the DAP of today no longer prioritises its democrat socialist ideology. The party today has become more of a family dynasty and seems to forget the party veterans.
"The elements of ego, arrogant and proud are evident in the DAP’s administration and even practiced in the DAP-led Penang government after almost 10 years in power, which are becoming more chronic.
"Even its ally, PKR, which has contributed 10 state seats (in the 13th general election), is being taken lightly in many issues," he stressed.
Tan said he himself was also a victim of the "family dynasty" political play when his name was dropped from the DAP candidate's list in the last general election, at the eleventh hour, without any valid reason.
He added that the same fate befell several other elected representatives in Penang, and warned that others may experience similar moves in the coming general election.
Tan also pointed out that the people's support for DAP in Penang, particularly the Chinese, had dropped when the party's top leaders cooperated with Parti Pribumi Melayu Bersatu (PPBM) chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"Everyone knows that this is an act of desperation, especially to forget their past differences.
"For DAP, what is important is the power of the family dynasty to maintain their political power and ensure the oppositionn wins in the 14th General Election.
"As such, DAP is no longer a safe place for anyone in the long term if this family dynasty continues," said Tan, adding that it was time for the Chinese voters to reconsider their support for DAP and rethink about their future generation instead of giving blind support to the party.
"Worse still, the party plays too much politics until there is hardcore corruption, where for the first time in history, a Penang chief minister was charged with two counts of corruption" he asserted.
Meanwhile, Zulkifli said that Tan’s entry into PAP marks a historic milestone for the two-year-old party.
He said the party would try as best to contest in all 13 parliamentary and 40 state seats in the coming election, and would ensure a Chinese is made the next chief minister if the party comes into p
ower.
"The people have had enough of the DAP's so-called CAT -- 'corruption, arrogant and thick head' (instead of competency, accountability and transparency) -- administration.
"What has the DAP-led Penang government done for the people in the past 10 years? All we see is more hills being stripped naked, more trees being chopped down, landslides, floods and reclamations.
"Penang used to be called an island, now this island is filled with water (floods). That is the fact," he added, urging the Penang people to wake up and boot out DAP.
When contacted, Universiti Sains Malaysia political analyst Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said DAP should be wary of more disgruntled leaders.
"It shows that their (DAP) decision is not blindly agreed by others within the party and they must be prepared to face those who show unhappiness.
"More importantly, the party can no longer afford to be arrogant, as perceived by the people, or risks winning with lesser majority in the future." he added.