"The party has not changed but instead, remained the same.

"However, Kota Melaka MP Sim Tong Him and his faction have changed after their defeat."

In saying this, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the four elected representatives were focusing their attacks on the party rather than on corruption scandals and excesses in the state after their defeat in the 2015 state party elections.

"Instead of working to win back the confidence of DAP Melaka members, they have turned against the DAP for allegedly spurning them, leading to a one-year suspension by the party," he said in a statement here today.

Besides Sim, the other assemblymen who quit DAP are Lim Jak Wong (Bachang), Goh Leong San (Duyong) and Chin Choon Seong (Kesidang).

Lim admitted his mistake in trusting that Sim and his faction leaders would remain loyal to DAP and the party's campaign to save Malaysia despite their differences with the DAP Central Executive Committee.

"I am saddened to hear Sim say he left the party without heartache despite having been a member for nearly 35 years," he said.

Lim said DAP could have taken disciplinary action against Sim when he stood as independent candidate in the 2013 General Election against a DAP candidate for the Kota Laksamana seat.

"However, the party believed he was misguided and still loyal to the DAP and the people."

Describing the resignation of the four as unexpected, he said none of them had conveyed to him, the party's acting national chairman Tan Kok Wai or national organising secretary Anthony Loke on the purported policy differences.

"They appear confused as to what policy differences they are unhappy about. They also seem confused on the rationale for resigning, which appears more to be an act of personal retaliation over their defeat in the Melaka state party elections and subsequent suspension for one year," he added.

Come Tuesday, Lim said he would go to Melaka to hold a meeting at 8pm with Melaka DAP leaders and members. - BERNAMA