Urge Sdr. Dr. Boo Cheng Hau to reconsider his decision to step down as DAP Johor State Opposition Leader

Media statement by DAP Johor Chairman Liew Chin Tong in Johor Bahru on 13^th October 2015

The DAP Johor State Convention in Batu Pahat on Sunday 11^th October 2015 elected 15 members to the State Committee for the 2015-2017 term.
In any election, there will be winners and losers. I congratulate those who were elected on Sunday. We are humbled by the support of the delegates.

The 325 delegates who voted on Sunday sent a clear message that the new State Committee must prepare the party for the twin tasks of winning the next election and running the next government.

To those who were not elected to the State Committee, I hope you can continue to contribute positively to advance the Party’s interest.

Party elections should be a friendly match among comrades to choose a set of leaders best suited to shoulder the heavy responsibilities of leading and charting the course for the party’s future. Let’s not burn the house down just because of internal differences.

The wisdom and wishes of the delegates should be respected.

I hope to set the record straight on several allegations made by Dr. Boo Cheng Hau yesterday.

Firstly, Dr. Boo alleged that there were 97 branches but twenty had their status downgraded and lost their voting rights (branches with Certificate B, C & D status do not vote in the State Election), hence depriving Dr. Boo’s chances of winning.

The 2013 branch list used in the January 2014 party election consisted of 74 valid branches while the 2015 list has 77 branches.

Between 2013 and 2015, nine branches were downgraded from Certificate A status while six were upgraded from Certificate B to Certificate A status. There were six new branches recognised by the Registrar of Societies between 2013 and 2015.

Secondly, Dr. Boo also alleged that the State Committee barred him from being involved in the affairs of other constituencies. In May 2014, after complaints from elected reps of meddling by Dr. Boo in their constituencies which resulted in contradictions, the State Committee unanimously decided that the local elected rep should be consulted before another elected rep gets involved in the affairs of other constituencies. This is to avoid confusion and contradiction in the eyes of the public.

Thirdly, Dr. Boo also told the press that he regretted “opening up Johor to central leaders”. In the 2013 general election, it was DAP’s national strategy to make Johor the frontline state with national leaders contesting in difficult Barisan Nasional seats in the hope of capturing Putrajaya. It was a strategy first proposed by Dr. Boo soon after the 2008 general election and one that is fully embraced by DAP members and the electorate.

It’s time to heal and not harm. It’s time to move on together to build a stronger DAP.

The challenges ahead for Malaysia are huge while the opportunities for the DAP to transform are plenty too.

It is in this context that I urge Sdr. Dr. Boo Cheng Hau to reconsider his decision to resign from his position as State Opposition Leader. On behalf of the Party, I thank him for his past contributions to DAP Johor and I hope he will accept the co-option to be a DAP State Committee member.