PM’s aide: Doubt over validity of DAP polls due to members’ complaints with RoS

(The Star) – It was DAP members who lodged complaints with the Registrar of Societies (RoS) over the party’s elections, throwing its validity into question, said the press secretary of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Datuk Seri Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad (pix) reminded DAP that its members had raised concerns on “serious irregularities and unfair treatment” in its party polls in 2012 and 2013.

“DAP members should remember that the RoS did not recognise the validity of the party’s central executive committee (CEC) only because of the complaints lodged by DAP members against DAP leaders – for conducting unfair and undemocratic party elections,” he said in a statement on Monday.

Tengku Sariffuddin was referring to the DAP elections held in Dec 2012 where complaints by members had been made to RoS regarding manipulation, resulting in the CEC not being recognised by the RoS.

However, in April 2013, the RoS said that DAP was not deregistered and would be allowed to contest under its rocket logo. After the general election, DAP organised another party polls on RoS’ request.

Tengku Sariffuddin asked why DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang did not simply ask his party’s members to withdraw their complaints to the RoS.

“If they have not been badly mistreated, surely they will withdraw?” he asked.

Tengku Sariffuddin added that it was Lim who was the “architect of DAP’s misfortunes”.

“It was he who therefore allowed the victimisation of the 753 delegates who were not allowed to take part in the election – a serious violation of their democratic rights.

“It was he who allowed the mistreatment of many of the DAP’s 865 branches.

“So why is he now blaming Umno and the RoS for attempts to manipulate DAP’s elections that favoured his family?” he asked.

It was reported that the decision on whether DAP would be deregistered may be known by next week.

Earlier on Monday, Lim warned DAP members to prepare for the possibility that the party may be deregistered and its logo disallowed before the next general election.