BAGAN Dalam incumbent Satees Muniandy has announced his exit from DAP and confirmed that he will run as an Independent to defend the seat in the Penang elections on August 12.

However, Satees, who was also the Ujung Batu DAP branch chief, vowed to support caretaker chief minister Chow Kon Yeow to continue leading the state.

He also said he would not support Perikatan Nasional if he managed to defend the seat.

“I have sent a letter to the party’s (DAP) secretary-general, Anthony Loke, this morning and have informed Chow of this difficult decision, after 15 years of service in the party,” he said at a press conference in Butterworth today.

Satees is among several incumbents and members of the state executive council who have not been listed as candidates for the elections.

The others are outgoing environment and social welfare committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, social development and non-Muslim affairs committee chairman Chong Eng, youth and sports committee chairman Soon Lip Chee, tourism and creative industries committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin and caretaker deputy chief minister II P. Ramasamy, who is also human capital development, education, science and technology committee chairman.

Satees, 38, said he would work together to create a bloc of Independent candidates with former Kampung Jawa Autocity DAP branch chief David Marshel, who also announced his exit from the party yesterday and confirmed that he would run as an Independent for the Perai seat. – Bernama, July 28, 2023.