DAP Suspends Democracy, Independent Rep Taunts Party

The public in Malaysia is actually not very savvy (yes folks I am talking about you). The Pakatan fellows have just committed a serious wrong and everyone is keeping quiet about it - except for one DAP guy who is actually quietly making a very big noise.

The DAP has amended the Penang Constitution making it illegal for elected members of the State Assembly to jump ship from one party to another. 

First of all this amendment should not be passed. It us ultra vires the Federal Constitution which allows freedom of association. You can join or resign from any club or society - chess club, badminton club, golf club, UMNO, DAP, whatever.  They are all governed by the Societies Act anyway.  

The same laws that apply for your badminton club also apply to political parties. You cannot pass a law that says once you join our badminton club, you cannot change and join another badminton club. It would be a non starter under the law.  The civilised law. 

In Penang they are making up their own laws. If the DAP comes into power they will surely pass the same law at Parliament level. Havent I said it before folks - if the Pakatan comes to power democracy will die in this country.

Anyway one DAP Rep in Penang by the name of Koay Teng Hai has embarked on his own challenge of this silly law that Guan Eng has had passed in Penang.  Firstly, Koay did not attend the State Assembly sitting when this law came for vote. He left on a holiday without any good excuse - other than its an overseas holiday to the US (dont ask how the DAP reps nowadays can afford holidays in the US).

The result of which was the DAP suspended him for six months. Here is the news :

1. DAP rep suspended for missing crucial sitting

• Pulau Tikus DAP rep Koay Teng Hai suspended from party for six months.
• missed vote Nov 1 to prevent party-hopping.
• His action almost resulted in Pakatan missing necessary two-thirds majority  

So today, Koay Teng Hai has announced that since he has been suspended, he is no more a DAP rep in the State Assembly and that he is now an Independent. Here is the news :

2. Suspended DAP rep says he is 'independent'

• Koay Teng Hai has described himself as an "independent" 
• Koay has removed the party's logos from his service centre 
• "I hope all my supporters remain calm," he told a press conference 

Well Koay is very clever and also proving to the DAP that their amending the Penang State constituion is a nonsense.  Why? Because Koay is still a State Assemblyman.  Despite passing the anti-hopping law, Guan Eng and the DAP cannot sack Koay from his State seat and force a by-election. Tak boleh.  So what is the purpose of passing such a nonsensical  law? You cannot enforce it in the first place.

But the bigger point Koay is proving is that he has already done it - he has hopped from the party. He did not join another political party but that is irrelevant. Independents are also 'political parties' on their own accord, one man political parties who can vote as they wish and put forward their own programs. 

By declaring himself an Independent, Koay is taunting Guan Eng that he has indeed hopped from the party. And Guan Eng cannot do anything about it.

Here is the catch - elections are around the corner - much less than six months away.  Will the DAP lift their suspension of Koay?  If they do not and also dont select him as their rep, he may stand again as an independent in Pulau Tikus. That may embarass Lim Guan Eng and the DAP. 

If Guan Eng reinstates Koay or picks him as their candidate again, it just makes a nonsense of Guan Eng's anti-hopping law again.  Koay has already proved to everyone that he has party hopped. He has become an Independent. Malulah Guan Eng. Majulah Singapura.