In urging his party comrades to support his stand, Pokok Asam assemblyman Leow Thye Yih cited two bleak events that Umno had orchestrated, saying he could never forget them.

In a Facebook post, Leow said the time he first joined the party in 2009 were what he considered as “dark days”, when the Umno-led Barisan Nasional government was in power.

He added that Umno had also been behind the move to take over the federal government from Pakatan Harapan (PH) and also other state governments earlier this year, going against the people’s mandate.

“These two events remind me that I will not support any candidate from Umno as the next Perak menteri besar.

“I hope and urge my fellow DAP members, especially Perak assemblymen, to support my stand,” he said.

Leow’s remarks contradicted that of state party chief Nga Kor Ming, who earlier said that DAP was open to working with any party, including Umno, to form a new state government.

Other state PH leaders, Amanah chairman Asmuni Awi and PKR chief Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, also said they were willing to cooperate with Umno.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi spoke about the possibility of forming a coalition with other parties to make up the new Perak government after its coalition partners, PPBM and PAS, had expressed disappointment over Umno’s move to vote against menteri besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu, who is also PPBM deputy president, in the state assembly.

He said this could include joining hands with those from opposition PH parties, including DAP.