GE14 | Malacca has never had a significant opposition, but yet the state has symbolic meanings for the DAP.

The party had been the sole opposition in Malacca since independence until 2013, when PKR and PAS finally made some inroads.

The state was also where DAP's Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng began their political careers.

Kit Siang’s debut in Parliament came after he won in the newly-created Kota Melaka parliamentary seat in 1969 and this seat has remained a DAP stronghold, except in 2004, when then prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi led BN to its largest victory in history.

It therefore came as a shock when DAP's control of six out of the 28 seats in the Malacca state assembly was suddenly halved in February last year. The remaining opposition state seat is held by PAS, in Bukit Baru.

In a surprise move, Duyong assemblyperson Goh Leong San, Bachang assemblyperson Lim Jak Wong and Kesidang assemblyperson Chin Choong Seong announced their resignation from DAP.

They were also joined by Kota Melaka MP Sim Tong Him. All of them were party veterans.

More than a year later, Malacca DAP is racing against the clock to get the party on the path of recovery in Malacca, ahead of the 14th general election...