Kit Siang has his hands full
(The Star) – While the feud in Penang DAP continues between national chairman Karpal Singh and Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy, party adviser Lim Kit Siang has his hands full with another squabble blowing up in Perak.
This follows the war of words between party vice-chairman M. Kulasegaran and Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming over the latter’s alleged involvement in a tailoring contract awarded to his wife during Pakatan Rakyat’s brief rule in the state in 2008.
Stepping in to calm the simmering quarrel, the veteran Lim issued a gag order on the issue.
In his tweet yesterday, Lim wrote: “Both Kula n Nga agree int. party channels x BN msm 1st resort 4 thrashing out matters affecting party leaders. Nga 2 explain 2 party leadership.”
The message said Kulasegaran and Nga both agreed it was an internal matter and party channels, not the Barisan Nasional mainstream media, should be used to thrash out matters affecting party leaders.
Lim also asked Nga to give an explanation to the party leadership.
Nga, who is Taiping MP and Pantai Remis state assemblyman, is alleged to have given a lounge suit sewing contract to Ipoh company Ethan & Elton, of which his wife Wong Seow Ching is said to be a director.
Allegations on the Internet said the company was formed 42 days after Pakatan took over the Perak government in 2008.
While several groups took Nga to task over the issue, Kulasegaran, who is Ipoh Barat MP, also asked him to come clean over the matter.
Contacted by The Star yesterday, Kulasegaran confirmed Lim had contacted him.
He declined to comment on what transpired in their conversation.
In his tweet, however, Kulasegaran defended his action of calling Nga to come clean on the tailoring contract.
He claimed he had not made any allegation or accusation and that his comments had been misinterpreted as an internal problem and bad blood between him and Nga.
Meanwhile, Nga said in his blog he respected the party’s directive and was therefore refraining from commenting on the issue.
“I shall leave it to the party leaders and members to judge his (Kulasegaran’s) conduct,” he said.
He had earlier accused bloggers of smearing his reputation, saying the accusations were slanderous, defamatory and irresponsible.
Meanwhile, MCA Youth vice-chairman Yit Lee Kok said the DAP should not turn a blind eye to the claims that Nga had awarded a tailoring contract to his wife’s company.