DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng has warned party members against making public statements on its candidates for the state elections.

He warned that anyone disobeying him would be subject to disciplinary action.

“The party makes the final decision, so leave all public statements to the leadership, especially to secretary-general Anthony Loke.

“This will prevent our political opponents from manipulating any remarks in the run-up to the state elections,” he said in a statement today.

Lim’s comments come after online news portal Malaysiakini published a report about behind-the-scenes politicking within Penang DAP and a supposed move by nine of its assemblymen to have Lim resume duties as chief minister, pushing incumbent Chow Kon Yeow to one side.

In a statement yesterday, 10 assemblymen denied any involvement in the alleged plot.

“This article is malicious and unfair, by not mentioning who was involved, thereby placing every assemblyman from Penang under unnecessary public suspicion.

“We solemnly attest that we have not spoken to Malaysiakini about this article. To attribute the report to any of us is false. Thus, we are unable to ascertain where Malaysiakini gets its baseless information from,” the group said in a brief statement.

Penang is one of six states – alongside Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah – due to go to the ballot box in June.

Lim said Malaysiakini retracted the report and apologised after realising it could not stand up to scrutiny.

“For a reputable premier online new portal like Malaysiakini to indulge in such irresponsible reporting is a salutary reminder of how extensive and exhaustive DAP’s opponents are intent on stoking up division and dissension to disrupt or even sabotage our chances in the state elections.

“Clearly there have been repeated and concerted attempts to do so for DAP refusing to submit to their views,” he said in the statement. – May 4, 2023.