Stop being arrogant and listen to RoS, DAP told

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP must stop being arrogant and abide by the Registrar of Societies (RoS)’ directive to hold fresh elections for its central executive committee (CEC), says former Kedah DAP chairman Lee Guan Aik (pic).

“The DAP and CEC shouldn’t be arrogant and stubborn because the RoS has already made its decision.

“Just conduct the re-elections, this time with transparency so that the rights of party members are upheld,” he said when contacted Saturday.

On Friday, RoS director-general Datuk Mohammad Razin Abdullah said that RoS has no intention of deregistering DAP, but that the party must hold fresh elections for 20 legal and authorised CEC members.

It said the decision was made following complaints lodged by DAP members.

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang responded to the decision in a tweet, calling it “most ridiculous”.

On Kit Siang's comment, Guan Aik said DAP should respect the RoS order, as it had come after a fair investigation.

“The RoS directive was not made intentionally to undermine the party,” he said.

He also urged the Kedah DAP leadership, which was elected by the CEC in 2013, to step down.

“Step down with honour because the RoS’ decision clearly states that the appointment in 2013 is not legitimate,” Guan Aik said.

In 2013, Guan Aik was removed as Kedah DAP chairman while Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari was appointed as interim chairman.

Several former DAP leaders have also expressed similar sentiments as Guan Aik, slamming Kit Siang over his remark on the RoS.

Former Teratai assemblymen Jenice Lee said on Friday that Kit Siang could have come up with alternative proposals to the RoS order rather than lashing out at it.

Former DAP life member Shamsher Singh also dismissed Kit Siang's remarks as an emotional outburst.

"If Lim thinks that the RoS’ directive is ridiculous, then he should instead channel his grievances through the appropriate avenues, which is suing the RoS.

“Go with the law,” he said.

Former DAP deputy chairman Zulkifli Mohd Noor, meanwhile, called for the party to be de-registered, adding that DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng should consider himself "lucky" that the RoS directive was only for fresh CEC elections.

Zulkifli was a DAP member of 26 years and a former elected deputy secretary-general.