Perak DAP still in crisis

(The Star) – With the Perak DAP election just a week away, the feud between its chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and deputy M. Kulasegaran has resurfaced.

A party insider said despite the Oct 10 peace talk following Kulasegaran threat to resign his party post due to unhappiness with the state leadership, the animosity between the two leaders was still strong.

He claimed that a “movement” within the party aimed at killing off Kulasegaran’s political career was gaining momentum.

“The new menu on the state party leadership line-up that is being circulated among members conveniently left out Kulasegaran’s name,” said the insider yesterday.

The insider noted that the feeling within Ngeh’s camp was that Kulasegaran was a spoiler and only after he was removed could Ngeh and his cousin Nga Kor Ming, who was also the Perak DAP secretary, had a free hand in running the party.

He said the thorny issue within the state DAP currently was still the 50 new branches set up by Ngeh and Nga.

It was a party practice that all new branches must be endorsed by the state committee, but Ngeh had failed to do so.

“Setting up of the new branches is akin to putting a boxer in the ring with his hands and limbs tied,” added the insider.

While the peace talk was supposed to settle the feud between Ngeh and Kulasegaran, the insider said it was merely a smoke screen to divert attention from the real issue.

“Nothing concrete has been achieved since the talks,” said the insider.

on his chances to retain the deputy chairman post, Kulasegaran admitted it would be a tough fight.

He however had faith in the 1,000 over delegates.

“I trust they will make the right choice,” he said.