GE13: Karpal: Alternative is to contest under PKR or PAS

(The Star) – DAP candidates will contest on PKR or PAS tickets in the coming general election should the party be deregistered following investigations into its controversial central executive committee elections.

Party chairman Karpal Singh said “if there is political interference or any steps taken to deregister the party” before nomination day, DAP candidates would have no choice but to contest under the PKR or PAS banner.

He said DAP was now “provisionally deregistered” pending investigations into the party’s elections, adding that the party would give its full co-operation to the Registrar of Societies (RoS) in the investigations.

He, however, reiterated that all investigations had to be done fairly.

“Every effort must be made by the RoS to ensure that the party is allowed to use its symbol in the upcoming general election,” he said at a press conference here yesterday.

Karpal said the RoS had begun its investigation last Wednesday, with the party’s internal auditor interviewed by the police on behalf of the registrar.

He welcomed the statement by RoS director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman who, when responding to a suggestion by former DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim that DAP should be suspended, said the registrar could not do that based on complaints but should instead have “solid grounds”.

Tunku Abdul Aziz had urged the RoS to suspend DAP pending its investigations into the party’s elections which were held in December.

Several DAP members have also lodged complaints with the RoS over the same issue since January.