Kedah DAP quits PAS-led gov't
Jul 1, 09 6:17pm
Even before the dust could settle on the unity talks fiasco which nearly tore apart Pakatan Rakyat, the opposition coalition is now faced with another crisis.

This time around the trouble is in Kedah where the state DAP has decided to quit the coalition formed slightly more than a year ago.

Kedah DAP's decision was related to the demolishment of the sole pig abattoir in the Malay-majority state which is headed by a menteri besar from PAS.

According to reports, the Alor Star Municipal Council has claimed that the premise was operating without a licence.

petronas sub contractor 231105 thomas suKedah DAP's decision was announced by its chief Thomas Su at a press conference in Alor Star this evening.

"I have already relayed the decision to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng. Fourteen out of 16 of our (state) committee members have agreed to quit," he told Malaysiakini.

He added that two other committee members could not attend the meeting.

Su said apart from the sole DAP representative in the state government, three local councillors and 43 village heads would also quit the government.

"DAP is not threatening the state government but we cannot sacrifice our principles. Although we have quit the Kedah government, it would not affect cooperation with Pakatan."

“This is a state level decision, we would abide by whatever decision that is made by the DAP central executive committee on the matter,” he said.

No alternative site for relocation

Stressing that he felt "dejected and disappointed", Su said the abattoir was utilised by 28 operators.

When Pakatan took over the state after the last general election, the abattoir was told to relocate its operations.

Su said the operators agreed to this, provided that a new site be given.

However, he added that the six sites proposed by DAP were rejected. The party was currently in the midst of suggesting another place when the demolition took place.

"The trust of the 28 operators has been betrayed. They are now left stranded. Pakatan is based on equality, fairness and justice. But were these principles upheld in this issue?" he asked.

It is learnt that the Pakatan council would hold an emergency meeting tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the matter.

DAP has one state seat in Kedah, while PAS has 16 and PKR, 5.

azizan abdul razakThe abattoir was to be demolished last month but it was halted following the intervention of DAP state representative, Lee Guan Aik.

Before today's demolition, Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak said that he had no power to stop the action by the municipal council.

According to China Press, Su and his supporters had attempted to prevent enforcement officers from the municipal council from tearing down the abattoir this afternoon.

Following this, a plainclothes policeman had forcibly removed the DAP leader from the scene.

Not the first incident

The DAP state chief said this was not the first incident which has angered the party.

Previously, he said there were complaints over the 50 percent housing quota for bumiputeras imposed by the PAS-led government as well as the partial demolishment of two temples.

Suu said DAP's objections regarding these issues were often ignored.

According to Pakatan sources in the state, DAP's disgruntlement has been brewing since the onset after it was 'shortchanged' in the appointments into various state bodies.

Pakatan is still licking its wounds from the damage caused by the proposal for PAS to hold unity talks with arch rival Umno.

Several DAP leaders had hammered PAS for even considering such a possibility.

Tensions between the Islamic-based PAS and the Chinese-dominated DAP is not something new.

In 2001, DAP had quit the then opposition alliance Barisan Alternatif after its leaders crossed swoards with PAS' top brass over the Islamic state agenda.