Kerk points the finger at Guan Eng’s supporters

PETALING JAYA: Former DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock has accused supporters of Lim Guan Eng, the son of party chief Lim Kit Siang, of campaigning against him in the general election. 

The defeat of Kerk in the Kota Melaka parliamentary seat to MCA's Wong Nai Chee costs the DAP the seat which it had held for the past 35 years.  

Kerk, who resigned as the party secretary-general on Sunday, said yesterday: “It was Guan Eng’s supporters who campaigned against me.” 

He said they had refused to put up posters during the elections. 

On Monday, Kerk said some faction members went around telling the public that he did not serve the constituency.  

Party members and supporters aligned to the Malacca state chairman Sim Tong Him became upset when Kerk did not name which faction was responsible for the alleged “sabotage.”  

The other faction is led by Guan Eng and his wife, Betty Chew, who won the Kota Laksamana state seat. 

Kerk also said in Selangor, a rival faction opposed Sungai Pinang assemblyman Teng Chang Kim’s offer to help campaign in a neighbouring constituency. 

The escalating factional rivalry has led Sim to challenge the party’s central committee to drop him.  

Sim said that the factional dispute in Malacca should be viewed seriously. 

“If the party thinks I am an obstacle to state unity, then the leaders can take action against me, including dropping me.”