Asked about speculation that he would be submitting his membership application soon, Poon said: “Yes, tomorrow at an event at SMJK Tiong Hua in Sandakan MPH, Sandakan.”

On whether former Sabah DAP secretary Liau Fui Fui will also be joining KDM, Poon briefly replied: “Yes”.

Poon and Liau quit DAP last month, claiming that the state chapter’s leadership favoured younger members and sidelined veterans despite their contributions over the years.

A media invitation issued earlier said the event, described as the launch of KDM’s election machinery, will be attended by KDM’s acting president, Priscella Peter, and deputy president, Wetrom Bahanda.

It mentioned a “membership application submission” ceremony, though it did not specify whose membership would be received.

On Thursday, Sabah DAP denied suffering from a mass exodus of members following Poon’s exit.

State DAP secretary Vivian Wong said such claims were aimed at giving the public a false perception of the party, adding that no divisions were dissolved after Poon’s departure.

Wong also denied that Poon and Liau had been sidelined by the party, pointing out that both were given posts in GLCs on Sabah DAP’s recommendation, while Liau was fielded to contest the Batu Sapi parliamentary seat during the 2022 general election.

Liau lost the election to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah’s Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, who won with a 4,821-vote majority.

The pair had claimed that members of two DAP branches had followed them in leaving the party.

Poon is the outgoing assemblyman for Tanjong Papat, which he has represented for two terms now, and also served as a state minister from 2018 to 2020.