‘DAP should eradicate unhealthy culture or face downturn’
A central executive committee re-election later, the worse is still not over for DAP as its Melaka chapter is riddled with infighting.
In the midst of it all, Johor DAP chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau (pic) has jumped in to urge the party to eradicate unhealthy cultures.
In an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily, the Skudai state assemblyman indicated that the party was troubled with power centralisation and meritocracy, making it intolerable to internal and external criticism.
This also made it inefficient for grassroot views to be channelled to the top, in addition to the existence of unlawful practices in the party.
Boo also pointed out that following DAP’s rapid expansion, it was at the risk of facing a downturn in performance in the 1995 and 1999 general elections (GE) if it failed to eradicate the unhealthy practices before the next GE.
“I don’t mind playing the bad cop in the party. I think one must raise an issue immediately once he or she finds it to be detrimental to the party.”
“This is the culture a democratic party should nurture,” he added.
Boo was responding to the explosion of DAP’s internal issues of late. He was of the view that the central DAP leadership should foster a culture of facing public criticism to have a better understanding of its position, as well as its future direction.
On the problem of power centralisation, Boo conceded that there is a force penetrating all state committees, citing Johor’s experience in which the central leadership announced the line-up before the state committee could submit its proposed candidate list.
Boo said the Melaka tussle also rooted from the same problem.
Goh urges DAP to probe car purchase case
Melaka DAP chief Goh Leong San who resigned as the state opposition leader on Tuesday, has urged the DAP central leadership to probe an allegation that two DAP leaders – who are a couple – purchased a car with people’s donation, Sin Chew Daily reported.
The Duyong state assemblyman who has a feud with DAP central leadership claimed that the car was registered under the name of a party leader’s wife, adding that the couple had signed a contract dated June 15, 2011 for the car purchase purpose.
The contract states that DAP Melaka woman wing had unanimously passed a resolution to allocate RM40,000 for a car purchase in its annual meeting held on Sept 4, 2011.
It was also decided in the meeting that the car would be registered under the name of one of the attendees – who is also the wife of a Melaka DAP leader.
“I wish to let the public understand that their donation cannot be spent for personal use. Hence I hope the DAP central leadership will make a clear judgement on this case.”
Goh quit as the state oppostion leader on Tuesday after his two comrades slammed him for praising Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Idris Haron.
Goh’s Johor counterpart Boo had also indicated unlawful purchase occurs in DAP in his interview with Sin Chew – in a clear sign of backing Goh.
Boo said he also found that DAP central leadership had been lenient with some unlawful purchase cases, involving some grassroot leaders. These could be a property or a car, he said.
Boo urged the leadership to act in accordance with the law and separate public and personal matters, and never cover up unlawful practises.
