Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu said his future plans were “a grey area”, although he had the option of remaining a politician or pursuing social activism.
“I can only tell you that I am not joining Barisan Nasional or any Pakatan Harapan party. And also, to make you happy, I am not going to be an independent candidate, either.
“You can only leave me in a grey space… if I want to be in politics or social work. As for working with other political parties, I have not decided where I want to go.
“I will go forward with my selection of career, otherwise I will simply retire, though I know it won’t be easy for me to do that,” he told reporters at his service centre in Tanjung Bungah here today.
When asked why he was leaving DAP, Teh said he had many unresolved issues with the party.
He said he had first intended to leave DAP after the 2013 general election, as many of the proposals he had put forth and the reforms promised were not fulfilled.
Among others, these matters related to transgender issues, the two-term limit for the chief minister, hill development, non-compliance to the state structure plan and lack of a local plan for town planning.
Teh said since his views were not in line with those of the party, it was best for him to leave.
His unofficial transgender committee in Penang, formed to oversee the community’s welfare and employment issues, was never recognised by the state despite its membership of six assemblypersons.
Teh had also fought at four state assembly sittings to limit the chief minister’s tenure to two terms, which he said was one of the election promises made by former opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat.
Speaking today, Teh said he had been wooed by many Penang-based parties. He added however that he was presently not interested in these as he was still considering leaving politics for social work.
For now, he said, he would continue being a DAP member until the next general election is called.
He said he would fulfil the mandate given by his constituents in Tanjung Bungah until his term ended.
“They (DAP) would win no matter what candidate they put there, so I guess it’s good for them,” he said when asked who might be fielded in Tanjung Bungah after his departure.
When questioned regarding a story on his resignation that had appeared in The Star on Sunday, Teh said this was nothing new as he had made the announcement before.
“I was asked by the reporter to confirm a statement I told Guang Ming daily in May that I would be leaving DAP. I merely confirmed it.
“So for the benefit of the English readers, I am here to reiterate for the third time that I will be leaving. I hope this clears all doubts out there,” he said.
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