‘Does the ROS DG think he’s the king?’
Athi Shankar, FMT
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng today slammed the Registrar of Societies (ROS) director-general Abdul Rahman Othman of acting like a “king” by refusing to explain reasons to call for fresh party polls.
He also said that ROS must provide the reasons on why it was not satisfied with DAP’s explanation on the alleged internal irregularities that took place in last December’s party polls.
He said the party would not re-convene the party polls for 20-elected positions in central executive committee (CEC) until ROS rendered an official written reply explaining the reasons.
“Please don’t tell us you (ROS) need not give us a reason.
“If they can do this now, what assurance is there that they would not do it again? This is not acceptable. This is against natural justice, democracy and due process of the law. We want a proper explanation.
“Abdul Rahman cannot wake up one morning and simply say he is not satisfied with our clarification.
“He cannot simply ask us to hold fresh elections without giving us a reason and the law for it.
“Who does he think he is? He thinks he is the king where one does not give any explanation.
“This establishes our concern that this is an abuse of power to victimise us politically,” he told a press conference in Komtar here today.
Last week ROS had issued an official directive to the DAP to hold fresh polls following an investigation on complaints by party members that last December’s election was marred by irregularities.
In its prompt reply, the DAP defied ROS orders, demanding reasons to do so.
DAP also claimed that ROS had no power to order for fresh polls.
Abdul Rahman said yesterday the ROS was not obliged to provide reasons for its directive.
BN lies
Referring to a statement by Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on ROS dissatisfaction on July 29, Lim chided ROS for allegedly issuing media statements on the issue before even conveying its messages to the DAP through official letters.
“This is typical of ROS these days. It is making announcements before issuing any letter in reply to this matter,” he said.
