Goh Leong San, former opposition leader in the Malacca state assembly, is now an Independent assemblyperson, said speaker Othman Muhamad.

Goh, who previously represented DAP, is the assemblyperson for Duyong. Goh had been suspended for one year reportedly for disparaging the party.

Othman said Ayer Keroh assemblyperson Khoo Poey Tiong of the DAP was the new opposition leader while Bandar Hilir assemblyperson Tey Kok Kiew was the chief whip for the opposition.

“I received a letter from DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng on this matter,” he said at the opening of the first meeting of the fourth session of the 13th Malacca state assembly at the Seri Negeri Complex in Malacca today.

The meeting was opened by Malacca Yang Dipertua Negeri Mohd Khalil Yaakob.

Media reports had mentioned a rift among DAP members in Malacca, with one side supporting the state leadership under Goh and the other supporting the central DAP leadership under Lim.

Speaking to reporters outside the assembly hall, Othman said he received a letter from Goh asking permission to change his seat in the assembly hall to that next to Bukit Baru assemblyperson Dr Khalid Kassim of PAS, last week.

“I called him and told him that if he were to sit next to Bukit Baru (Dr Khalid), he would have to be an Independent assemblyman, and he said yes.

“The opposition leader (Khoo) had earlier proposed for Goh to sit at the number three seat (in the opposition block) due to his seniority in the assembly as he had been there for five terms, but he said no and insisted to be seated next to Bukit Baru,” he said.

Othman said although Goh was now an Independent assemblyperson, he should continue putting the interests of the people and the state above his own, and hence continue making constructive criticism and sharing his ideas to bring Malacca to greater heights.

- Bernama