32 years after quitting DAP, Lam Thye reveals party backstabbing

32 years after quitting DAP, Lam Thye reveals party backstabbing


Former DAP veteran Lee Lam Thye has finally addressed the reasons why he quit DAP 32 years ago.

In his memoir, the former four-term Bukit Bintang MP said his style of politics often put him at odds with the party leadership.

"Being an opposition member, I perceived my role as a constructive opposition offering constructive criticism and alternative suggestions for the consideration of the government.

"I did not object for the sake of objecting. I had even supported government legislation as long as they were in the public and national interests.

"My non-belligerent approach did not go down well and there were criticisms about my stance on issues," he said, according to an excerpt of the book published by New Straits Times yesterday.

He said this led to some of his party colleagues seeking to discredit him and stab him in the back.

It had previously been reported that among the leaders Lee clashed with was DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang.

His differences with the party leadership, Lee said, resulted in Lim seeking to move him out of Bukit Bintang in the 1990 general election to an undisclosed seat.

This was despite his refusal to vacate the seat unless he had become a liability, was not performing, or had been involved in a scandal.

"The decision made no sense to me. I was dumbfounded. I was shocked as I never expected this to happen. And I was not even told where I would be fielded instead," Lee said.

The leadership would end up fielding a former MCA candidate, lawyer Wee Choo Keong, in Lee's stead.

"I have nothing against Wee but I felt it was unfair for Lim to ask me to vacate my seat for him," he added.

Feeling sidelined and betrayed, the then DAP deputy secretary-general decided to quit the party.

Lee’s successor in Bukit Bintang, Wee, also had a falling out with Lim and DAP later on and was expelled from the party in 1998.