Mind your own business, DAP tells NGOs
They should not dictate terms on who should be the next deputy chief minister, says a DAP local leader.
Athi Shankar, FMT
BUTTERWORTH: A DAP local leader here today told Indian-based NGOs to mind their own business and lay off their hands from the party’s internal affairs.
Bagan parliamentary liaison committee publicity chief G Asoghan said the NGOs have no business to tell the party on whether it should hold fresh party polls.
He said the NGOs should also not dictate terms on who should be the next deputy chief minister representing the Indian community in Penang if Pakatan Rakyat retained the state government in the coming general election.
He noted that under Societies Act and party constitution, the DAP top leadership has the power to make the final decision on party matters.
Hence, he said the decision not to hold fresh polls by the central executive committee (CEC) was final.
“If anyone wants to challenge the decision, it should be the defeated candidates at last month’s CEC election, not NGOs,” said Asoghan, who is also DAP’s Jalan Bagan Luar branch chief.
Recently, the DAP has admitted that there was a glitch in the tabulation of votes at the party’s CEC election held on Dec 15 in Penang.
An audit showed that appointed CEC member Zairil Khir Johari garnered 803 votes as opposed to the 305 announced earlier, enough for him to become an elected member.
Vincent Wu, on the other hand, received 669 votes as opposed to the 1,202 announced at the end of the voting. He had to vacate his seat among elected CEC members and join the ranks of appointed members.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has announced that the party would not hold fresh polls.
Its national chairman Karpal Singh has said that Section 18c of the Societies Act gave the party the power to make a final decision on the matter and that the decision could not be challenged in court.
Stay apolitical
Asoghan reminded the NGOs that they should always remain apolitical as they always claimed to be. They should stay away from politics.
“They should refrain from organising demonstrations and forums demanding the DAP to hold fresh election or to choose certain personality as Penang deputy chief minister II.
“They should only mind their own business. They should take their hands off from DAP’s affairs,” said Asoghan.
Yesterday, a group of youths led by Malaysia Tamil Security Council president MV Mathialagan held a demonstration demanding that the DAP hold fresh polls for CEC positions.
One banner displayed during the demonstration held in an open space in Taman Supreme, Prai, expressed disappointment that Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy had failed to get himself elected to the committee.
But the demonstration at noon nearly turned ugly when a group of local DAP members warned the protesters against trespassing into their territory.
The DAP members confronted Mathialagan, and told him he needed their consent to use the open space.
However, despite fiery exchange of words, there was no physical contact from either side.
Previously, certain NGOs have also organised demonstrations and forums across the country to demand that Penang Chief Minister Guan Eng retain Ramasamy as his deputy chief minister II after the general election.
Asoghan reminded the NGOs that the position of deputy chief minister II was not a personal property of anyone to claim permanent inheritance.
He said it was a position created by the DAP leadership, notably party supremo Karpal, to serve the Indian community.
“The party, especially Indian members, under Karpal’s guidance will decide on who’s the best to fill the position,” he said.
