Titi Tinggi assemblyperson Yip Sun Onn has resigned from the Perlis state assembly with immediate effect, just as MCA is facing a free-for-all party polls this Sunday.

Perlis speaker Yazid Mat has confirmed with Malaysiakini that he had received his letter of resignation last evening.

azlan Yazid said Yip stated in the letter that his resignation was with immediate effect.

“He cited the reason for his resignation was due to his unhappiness with certain party leaders,” he said.

It not clear whether Yip has problems with Perak MCA chief Chew Mei Fun, who is also incumbent Wanita chief.

Yazid said will use his powers as Perlis speaker to determine if the seat should be declared vacant.

Since that Yip has resigned as the state representative, it is likely there will be by-election in the coming two months.

Yazid however said that he will advise Yip to reconsider his decision.

Yip cannot be reached for comment.

Sole MCA state exco 

azlan Yip was replaced by Dr Por Choo Cho as the sole MCA state executive councillor in the Perlis cabinet last week on the recommendation from MCA top leaders.

Por is Perlis MCA secretary and Indera Kayangan assemblyperson.

According to Berita Harian today, Perlis Menteri Besar Dr Md Isa Sabu had been informed of Yip’s resignation and he too also asked Yip to reconsider his decision.   

Por, when contacted by Malaysiakini , was shocked by the news that Yip had resigned.

But when told that Perlis speaker had received Yip’s quit letter, Por said he was currently in Kuala Lumpur.

“I need to get more information before I can respond to the resignation,” he said.

‘Not linked to state cabinet reshuffle’

Meanwhile, Chew said she was aware of Yip’s resignation, but told Malaysiakini that party leaders were seeking to persuade him to stay in office.

 

“We hope he will cool down. The party and the people still need his service,” she said.

 

Chew also revealed that she heard of Yip’s resignation two days ago but she was unable to contact Yip.

 

“Although he called back yesterday, but unfortunately I missed his call,” she added.

 

Chew denied that Yip’s resignation was related to the state cabinet reshuffle.

 

“He doesn’t look like a man who is upset by the lost of the exco post. We will try to find out what is ailing him,” she said.

Given the bitter infighting within MCA among three key factions, the party can ill-afford to fight a by-election.

As such, party leaders will be leading hard on Yip to withdraw his resignation.

DAP: Resignation cannot be retracted

In an immediate reaction, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang has described Yip’s resignation as a “political bombshell”.

“But it is also a legal bombshell – for once Perlis speaker Yazid Mat has confirmed receipt of Yip’s letter of resignation, the letter of resignation cannot be retracted or this could be challenged in a court of law,” he said in a statement today.

According to Lim, should Yip tried to do so, his status as state assemblyperson could be challenged in court.

He argued that Yip becomes an “unlawful” state representative from the date of his resignation and the speaker would be acting unlawfully in allowing the resignation letter to be retracted.

Lim said that the powers of the speaker is limited and he “could not ask Yip to reconsider and withdraw his resignation if Yip had indeed sent in such a letter”.

“What the speaker should do honourably and properly is to submit Yip’s resignation to the Election Commission for a by-election to be held within 60 days.”