Just When You Think That Karpal Singh Is The Most Principled DAP Leader…
Khoo Kay Peng
I doubt there is any DAP leader or delegate has any intention to challenge the party election results. However, DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh stressed that DAP’s decision not to hold fresh party polls to rectify the electoral blunder, should be final as it cannot be challenged in court.
In a short statement today, the Bukit Gelugor MP said the repeated calls for DAP to call a fresh election “should, and must, take into account section 18(c) of the Societies Act 1966 relating to the finality of the decision on such matters by a political party”.
He quoted the section which stipulates “the decision of (any) political party to be final and conclusive”.
“The decision of a political party or any authorised persons by the party or by its constitution, rules or regulations made thereunder on the interpretation of its constitution, rules or regulations or on any matter relating to the affairs of the party shall be final and conclusive and such a decision shall not be challenged, appealed against, reviewed, quashed or called in question in any court on any ground, and no court shall have jurisdiction to entertain or determine any suit, application, question or proceeding on any ground regarding the validity of such a decision”.
Ironically, it was a provision planted by Dr Mahathir Mohamad after his near defeat in the UMNO’s party elections by subjugating the judiciary. The DAP has been quite vocal of Dr Mahathir’s interference of the judiciary and the draconian amendment which has given leaders of political parties near autocratic powers.
I have more problem with Karpal’s recital of Section 18(c) of the Societies Act 1966 to quash and quell any possible opposition against the party’s decision not to hold fresh elections than the blunder itself. It shows that Karpal and his party leadership have no qualm to use any draconian legal provision created by an authoritarian leader such as Dr Mahathir Mohamad as long as it fits and fulfills the needs of his party.
