Malay DAP leaders: I will accept the outcome and the choice made

 

(The Star) – Malay DAP leaders who will contest in the coming fresh central executive committee (CEC) polls are leaving it to the delegates to decide their fate.

Senator Dr Ariffin S.M. Omar, who was among Malay leaders nominated but not elected previously, said he did not wish to speculate on his chances this time.

“I will accept the outcome and the choice made by delegates. It is not a matter of what I like or dislike,” he said.

The former Universiti Pertahanan Nasional lecturer said he was new and not very well known when he first stood in the CEC polls last year.

“I had just been appointed a senator but I still received 400 votes, which is not bad,” he added.

Initially, the eight Malay leaders who were among 66 candidates vying for the 20 central executive committee positions failed to get elected.

But after a recount, it was determined that Zairil Khir Johari had won a seat with 803 votes.

Ariffin was also subsequently appointed a DAP vice-chairman and into the CEC.

But the appointment cost Ariffin, 64, his position at the university, which had a policy barring one from holding positions in a political party.

“I knew perfectly well I had to resign or face the sack,” he said.

Zairil, who is political secretary to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, said he trusted the delegates would elect the best candidates regardless of race.

“The point is we want the best leaders and move away from the issue of race,” said the 30-year-old Bukit Bendera MP, who last week said he would re-contest for a seat to prove that the initial contest was not fixed as alleged.

Johor DAP vice-chairman Ahmad Ton said it was up to the delegates on whether they wanted to elect him.

“I’m already 68 and have been a long-time member,” said the veteran, who has been with the party since 1975.

The other Malay candidates who contested previously were Pahang deputy chairman Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji, Penang committee member Zulkifli Mohd Noor, Roseli Abdul Ghani, Desa Manjung branch chairman Solaiman Op Syed Ibrahim and Harun Ahmad.

On Saturday, party chairman Karpal Singh announced that the DAP would retain the same list of candidates and delegates who participated in the party elections held in Penang on Dec 15 last year.

The Registrar of Societies directed the DAP to hold the fresh polls following the controversy involving the recount and complaints from members.

The fresh polls are scheduled to be held in early November.