AFTER contributing half his life to DAP and the country, Teng Chang Khim said he will retire and not contest in the next general election.

The Selangor state executive councillor (exco) for investment industry, commerce and small and medium enterprise said he will serve out his tenure but will not be seeking re-election for his Bandar Baru Klang assembly seat. 

“It is my great pleasure to announce that I will not be participating in the DAP Central Executive Committee election this year and the next DAP Selangor state committee election. 

“I will also not seek re-election after the dissolution of the Selangor state legislative assembly. I have contributed half of my lifetime in public service and it is time to chart for another half of it,” the DAP veteran said in a lengthy statement today. 

Teng, who has been an assemblyman for 25 years, added it was rewarding for DAP to be a part of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition which took over Selangor in 2008 and helped build the state’s economy to where it is today. 

“I have relentlessly given the best of my ability to help build the nation, especially Selangor, and I will leave it to the people and history to judge me. 

“I was unexpectedly fortunate to have been reappointed as the Selangor exco member in 2018. I considered it to be divine intervention after pouring toil, tears and sweat over the years to build the state,” he said.

The 57-year old was appointed as Selangor assemblyman in 1995 and was the only DAP representative in the assembly after the 1999 general election, when there was almost complete wipe out of the opposition. 

Teng, who had been both speaker and opposition leader in the state assembly, added he will continue to assist DAP leaders despite him retiring from the forefront of politics. 

“To realise the noble ideals of building a fair and just society as aspired by the party’s founders, we need not only to stay steadfast in upholding the party’s stand and principles but also to possess the capability and knowledge in administration and the virtue of being perseverant, magnanimous, creative, pragmatic, agile and decisive. 

“I have accumulated a tremendous amount of experience after numerous successes and failures and I will be very glad to share them, if and when is needed, in anticipation of realising the aspiration of establishing a new Malaysia,” he said. 

Last week, Teng took to Facebook to cryptically lash out at opposition leaders for failing to call a division vote for Budget 2021  . 

“When a decision right or wrong, sparks the outrage of the people. A courageous and responsible number one shall come forward, at the first instance to account for it, not the scapegoat,” he posted.

The DAP central committee member for 24 years was most likely alluding to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng who told his 42 MPs to stand down. 

According to party insiders, the relationship between Lim and Teng have been strained for the past two decades.  – December 3, 2020.