Penang polls: Satees quits DAP to run as independent candidate

BUTTERWORTH: Former Bagan assemblyman M. Satees has announced that he quits DAP and will run as an independent candidate in the Penang state election on Aug 12.

He said the decision to contest in the Bagan Dalam State Legislative Assembly was made after his name was dropped as a candidate by the party.

He said it was a clear signal to the party leader referred to as the 'Maharaja' in DAP who was allegedly trying to ruin the administration of the state government.

Satees, who has been with DAP since 2008, said he had sent a letter of resignation as a member of the party to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, this morning.

He decided to leave the party after former Seberang Perai City Councilor (MBSP) David Marshel announced his decision to leave DAP and to contest in the Prai state seat as an independent candidate supporting Chow Kon Yeow's leadership as Chief Minister.

​"I made the decision to leave the party because I want to resign before I am thrown out. There is only one thing I want to say...there are those who say I left the party because I was disappointed that I was not nominated and that is not the reason.

"It's time. I'm no longer in the party and I think it's time I went against that 'individual' from outside the party. If I was still in the party, my hands would be 'tied'.

"This does not mean that I hate the party, no, I joined this democratic party, so I believe that this party will return to its original objectives when we succeed in 'ousting' the 'Maharaja'.

"What is important here is that I want to convey to the Penang people and its voters that this state does not belong to certain 'individuals', rather to the people of Penang," he said.

He said this at a press conference at the Bagan Dalam DAP assemblyman's office in Butterworth on Friday.

Loke previously announced that 19 DAP candidates wil be fielded in the Penang state election.

However, seven incumbents including five Penang state excos were dropped and it was described as a reform process to ensure the party remained dynamic and politically-relevant.

Among the seven incumbents dropped were Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy in the Perai state seat, Phee Boon Poh (Sungai Puyu), Soon Lip Chee (Bagan Jermal), Chong Eng (Pangkalan Kota), Yeoh Soon Hin (Paya Terubong) and Lee Chun Kit (Rat Island). - AWANI