DAP Nibong Tebal member of parliament Goh Kheng Huat today announced his decision to quit the party with immediate effect.

Among the reasons he cited for the decision was his "sidelining" from the party since 1998 after allegedly being a member of the 'Knock Out (Lim) Kit Siang (KOKS)' campaign. Lim is the party chairperson.

"Although I suffered for the past four years and four months in DAP, I did not leave the party as I contested under the DAP ticket (for the 1999 elections)," he said in a statement, adding that his decision today was only made after the dissolution of parliament.

Goh is one of the four DAP MPs in Penang. The other three are Chow Kon Yeow (Tanjung), Chong Eng (Bukit Mertajam) and Lim Hock Seng (Bagan).

His resignation letter was faxed to secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock and Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow this morning.

Following his resignation, it is uncertain whether Goh will defend his seat in the coming general election.

"Both the ruling and opposition parties have invited me to contest under their ticket. I am considering all these offers but have not made up my mind yet," he said when contacted by malaysiakini this afternoon.

However, he said that he would not cross over to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) although he has been making public appearances with Keadilan leaders.

"I am still considering whether to join another political party or quit politics altogether," he said.

Not a shock

In an immediate response, Chow said Goh's decision was "widely expected" and that the party will accept the resignation.

"It did not come as a shock. The rumours (about Goh quitting) has been in the air for the past two to three years," the DAP Penang chief said.

Chow said the "sidelining" claims were merely Goh's "personal feelings".

"His name is on the general candidate list recommended by the state but the final decision will be made by the central leadership," he explained.

Chow declined to comment whether DAP will field another candidate in Nibong Tebal following the latest development.

In the 1999 election, Goh obtained a 1,856 majority to wrest the seat from Barisan Nasional.

He joined the DAP in 1982 and had contested under the party's ticket in Penang four times - Machang Mubuk state seat (1986), Jawi state seat (1995), Sungai Bakap state seat (1997 by-election) and Nibong Tebal (1999). He was defeated in all the contests, except for Nibong Tebal.

The 'renegade' leader is known for his close ties with the opposition Barisan Alternatif (BA) coalition despite DAP having severed ties with the coalition in 2001.

He also repeatedly defied party's orders and campaigned for BA candidates during several by-elections in 2002 - including the Anak Bukit and Pendang by-elections in July 2002 and Indera Kayangan in January the same year.

For this, he was found guilty and issued a warning letter by the party's disciplinary committee for disobeying party's directive three months after the Indera Kayangan by-election.

The DAP has suffered from a series of high-profile resignations since last year due to leadership differences with the central committee.