DAP Bahau state assemblyperson Lim Fui Ming today announced that he has quit the opposition party which he had served for nearly two decades.

According to a China Press report, Lim said he has been 'sidelined and oppressed' by his party colleagues.

However, he has no intentions of joining any other party at the moment and will remain as an independent until the next elections.

The 61-year-old politician, who has been a DAP member since 1988, also blamed his party colleagues for his dismal performance in the party state polls.

In 2004, Lim received the third lowest number of votes and in 2006, he was the second lowest among the candidates vying for a post in the state liaison committee.

'Lose-lose situation'

Lim said he intended to retire after 2001 but former DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock had asked him to contest for the Bahau seat, which is known to be a Barisan Nasional stronghold, in the 2004 elections.

The DAP Negeri Sembilan vice-chief claimed that the party could not find any other suitable candidate and his victory there was unexpected.

According to him, he is resigning to make the state party leaders happy and pave the way for others.

The report also quoted Negeri Sembilan MCA and Gerakan leaders as welcoming Lim to join their parties.

DAP Negeri Sembilan chief Anthony Loke - who is the Lobak state assemblyperson - described the resignation as a 'lose-lose' situation which is bad for the party and Lim's political career.

He also disagreed with the rumours that his relationship with the veteran politician is strained.

Loke, who dismissed the allegation by Lim of being sidelined and oppressed, said he was uncertain as to the real reasons behind the resignation.

Following this development, Loke is now the only DAP state assemblyperson in Negeri Sembilan.

Malaysiakini could not reach Lim for comments.