The unexpected incident in the Kota Laksamana state seat – where a DAP veteran is contesting as an independent – received a lot of attention from the Chinese papers.

DAP Kota Melaka parliamentary candidate Sim Tong Him, who is standing as an independent candidate in Kota Laksamana, received equal measures of support and criticism from the constituents on his first walkabout after the nomination.

Sim said he would continue to listen to the views of the voters in Kota Laksamana constituency. If the voters prefer the DAP candidate for the state seat, Lai Kuen Ban, then he would consider withdrawing his candidacy.

Nevertheless the much respected DAP veteran said he still thinks his decision is right at the moment.

According to Sin Chew Daily's headline report, Sim pledged his loyalty to his party, saying "if you poked me with a knife, the blood that flow out will be red in colour (DAP); it's impossible to be dark blue (BN). I (was) born and (will) die as a DAP man. This is an unchangeable fact".

His brief speech during the walkabout gained applause from his supporters on the ground, who chanted, "support Sim Tong Him".

Sim, who is backed by the entire Melaka DAP leadership, said: "You can't take the support for DAP from Kota Laksamana voters for granted. I don't agree with the party which thinks the voters would accept whoever is chosen by the party. Is it the way the party treats the people? Therefore, this is an opportunity to save DAP in Kota Laksamana."

Meanwhile Sim distanced himself from other DAP leaders like Jenice Lee and Yew Tian Hoe who also nominated themselves as independent candidates for the general election. He said the situation is different, adding that he is prepared to be punished by the DAP disciplinary committee.

Sim will definitely be sacked

Still on the same matter, chairman of the DAP disciplinary committee Tan Kok Wai said the committee cannot have double standards. Hence it would sack all DAP members who contest as independent candidates, including Sim Tong Him.

He said in an exclusive interview with Sin Chew, "he (Sim) would definitely be sacked but he still has the right to appeal. If he can consider the greater good then I believe the party would give him special consideration because DAP is not a heartless party".

Tan said he has confidence in Sim as he is a DAP veteran and he is the kind of person who can tell right from wrong but his move is disrespectful to the party's candidate.

Meanwhile DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng condemned Sim for being dishonest. He has given Sim 24 hours to withdraw his decision to contest as an independent candidate.

Jenice Lee fights back

Incumbent assembly member for Teratai Jenice Lee Ying Ha has slammed DAP for being contradictory in regards to her case.

She said on one hand, the party declared that she had been sacked, while at the same time DAP National chairman Karpal Singh warned her to apologise within 24 hours.

She also questioned the legitimacy of the DAP leaders who announced her sacking.

She said in a phone interview with China Press, since the Registrar of Societies (RoS) as doubted the legitimacy of DAP central executive committee, she questioned in what capacity did the leaders sack her? And was it legitimate.

She also said she has not used any materials bearing the DAP symbol in her campaign, hence she does not fear Selangor DAP chairman Teresa Kok's threat to report her to the Election Committee.