Malacca DAP today suffered a second wave of resignations, after the departure of veteran member and its sole MP, Sim Tong Him and three state assemblypersons last month.

Some 182 grassroots members, led by seven former DAP state committee members, quit citing "disappointment" with the party.

Among others they said the party deviated from its "Malaysians Malaysia" principle, former Malacca DAP state secretary Liou Chen Kuang said.

Besides Liou, the six other former state committee members leading the resignations are N Ghandi, Low Chew Lim, Henry Kang, Kenny Tam, Kng Tuan Hock and Tee Ai Yen.

Liou also criticised the DAP for "selling out Chinese honour" to gain votes for power, alleged failure to weed out internal corruption as well as claimed interference of central leadership in state party matters.

“We decided to take this decision after a month of consideration and consultation with local supporters and members.

“The 182 members decided to renounce the party membership as DAP has deviated from its struggle,” Liou, who joined DAP 18 years ago, told Malaysiakini.

Previously, Liou was DAP's candidate for the Machap state seat in 2004 and 2008 and the Klebang state seat in 2013 general election. He was unsuccessful in all attempts.

Sim not the mastermind

Liou dismissed suggestions that Sim orchestrated the resignations and that the 182 acted on their own. When contacted, Sim expressed the same.

Liou also claimed that the national and state leadership did nothing to unite the grassroots after Sim's departure.

However, DAP state secretary Khoo Poay Tiong denied the party has deviated from the "Malaysian Malaysia" principle and urged the members to reconsider their decision.

"As I understand, they (the disgruntled members) will courier their resignation letters to the central leadership.

"If they have not sent (the letters) out, I urge them to please cool down and reconsider it,” the Ayer Keroh assemblyperson said when contacted.

On Liou's claim that the national leadership did not do anything to address discontent, Khoo said DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang was dispatched to Malacca to address grassroots immediately after Sim's resignation.

Sim, together with Malacca assemblypersons Goh Leong San (Duyong), Lim Jak Wong (Bachang) and Chin Choong Seong (Kesidang), resigned from the party on Feb 12, citing disappointment with DAP's alleged deviation from its socialist ideology and original struggle for a "Malaysian Malaysia".