KUALA LUMPUR – Many of DAP leaders have chosen to keep mum over the news of Datuk Tey Kok Kiew’s resignation as Melaka DAP chief after his loss in the state polls yesterday.
Despite many of them being uncontactable, The Vibes briefly spoke to Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong, who declined to weigh in at length on Tey’s decision, only pointing to the press conference held earlier today.
Khoo, who is also DAP assistant national organising secretary, attributed the party’s losses to “low voter turnout” in Melaka yesterday.
Meanwhile, Syahredzan Johan, lawyer and political secretary to DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, posted a tweet thanking Tey for his service.
Sdr Tey Kok Kiew ambil tanggungjawab dan letak jawatan sebagai Pengerusi DAP Melaka di atas prestasi DAP dalam #PRNMelaka
— Syahredzan Johan (@syahredzan) November 21, 2021
Beliau juga meminta maaf kepada ahli DAP, parti PH lain dan juga penyokong parti.
Terima kasih atas khidmat, Sdr. https://t.co/yHD9jrsQyr
“Comrade Tey Kok Kiew taking responsibility and resigning as Melaka DAP chief in light of DAP’s performance in the Melaka elections.
“He also apologised to DAP members, the PH party, and also supporters of the party.
“Thank you for your service, comrade.”
DAP’s Kg Tunku assemblywoman in Selangor, MP Lim Yi Wei, also expressed her support for Tey’s decision on Twitter today.
Man of honour. Took on a hard seat to make place for younger candidates and sent support for us in Pengkalan Batu. Mad respect. https://t.co/EiDJcHW6Ge
— Lim Yi Wei 林怡威 ?? (@LimYiWei4MY) November 21, 2021
“Man of honour. Took on a hard seat to make place for younger candidates and sent support for us in Pangkalan Batu. Mad respect.”
In a press conference earlier today, Tey announced his resignation as the state party chief while electing to remain a DAP member.
Sin Chew Daily quoted him as saying that he was taking full responsibility for the results of the state election, adding that he will be handing in his resignation letter to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng today.
Tey could not be reached for comments.
DAP contested in eight of the 28 seats up for grabs in Melaka but only managed to win four.
Tey was running in Bemban even though he was the Bandar Hilir incumbent prior to the polls.
Bemban saw a five-cornered fight resulting in Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Bersatu man Mohd Yadzil Yaakub winning with a mere 328 majority. He received 4,211 votes while Datuk Koh Chin Han of Barisan Nasional (BN) and MCA got 3,883, and Tey had 3,095.
Independent candidates Ng Choon Koon took 850 votes and Azmi Kamis only 130.
BN captured 21 of the 28 seats, leaving Pakatan Harapan with five and PN with two. – The Vibes, November 21, 2021