The recent rift within the DAP Selangor division has reopened the wounds of past rivalries between some of the leaders - and brought up o­nce again the name of its controversial former Youth chief Teng Chang Khim.

Teng, a Selangor state committee member, has been rumoured to be the instigator behind recent quarrels between state chairperson M Manoharan and a group of eight leaders led by state secretary Ronnie Liu.

But speaking with malaysiakini today, Teng denied any involvement in the disputes, saying instead that he had been made the scapegoat for problems faced by other leaders.

'Tough decision'

"I fully agree with (Manoharan's) interpretation of the party constitution in the matter but to say that I have influenced him in the matter is a way to belittle him," Teng said.

"Manoharan is the chairperson and I have respect for his capabilities. I have sympathy for his position o­n this issue (although) I would hesitate to do what he has done. Politically it was a tough decision but he wanted to do something it.

An open split within the DAP Selangor leadership became evident last week when Manoharan (photo) sacked eight state committee members o­n grounds that they had allegedly failed to attend three consecutive meetings.

The eight are state secretary Ronnie Liu, organising secretary Jack Wong, deputy chair Tee Boon Hock, vice-chairperson o­ng Ing Siong, publicity secretary William Thye, treasurer Alex Yim, assistant treasurer Ang Leng Kiat and women affairs secretary Madeline Chang.

In a late night meeting yesterday, the party's central working committee reverse the sackings, and proposed that the Selangor panel be suspended and administered by a higher national body until the next state-level election in August.

Teng, who is the Bandar Klang state assemblyperson, said the state of affairs within the Selangor leadership had been problematic even before the appointment of Manoharan.

"Last year, the state committee held o­nly three meetings. There was even a break of six months between meetings, when the party constitution clearly states that a meeting should be held every two months," he said.

"The excuse at that time was that (former state chairperson, the late Ahmad Nor) was sick but this was just an excuse as the deputy chairperson (Tee Boon Hock) should have called for the meetings.

"The state of affairs were already in a bad shape. Manoharan tried to deal with it but unfortunately this has happened."

No interest

On allegations about his behind-the-scenes involvement in the dispute, Teng said he felt saddened that some members had chosen to spread rumours about him rather than focus o­n resolving the issues at hand.

"I don't have the time to give my explanation o­n every rumour unless people come up and ask me about them. I am prepared to be criticised but (they should) do it openly and specifically so that I can have the chance to defend myself," he said.

Teng also responded to a report in The Sun yesterday which linked the recent rift to alleged rivalry between Teng and Liu (photo) for the state chairperson's position in the upcoming state level election, saying that he had no interest in running for the top post.

"I am not interested in running for chairmanship. I have no plans at all and I have done nothing to campaign for the post.

"I was nominated at the last meeting but I declined because I know that they (his critics) would target me since I had made myself the controversial figure o­n the issue involving (DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang)," said Teng, who had called for Lim's resignation.

In addition, Teng said the rumours did not make sense as Manoharan had o­n previous occasions apparently supported Liu over him.

'Why the blame?'

Referring to the previous state election in 2001, Teng said he was nominated for both the state chairman and state secretary posts, but lost both by two votes to 12 against Ahmad Nor for the former and Liu for the latter.

"The two persons who nominated me were not Manoharan nor the others (in the committee). This would make Manoharan Ronnie's man. Why do they blame me now that they have problems?"

Questioned o­n whether he continue to work for the party in view of the upcoming general election, Teng said he was prepared to work as long as his contribution is required.

"I will contest if the party thinks I can contribute. Whether they give me a state seat or a parliamentary seat, I will contest as long as it is in Klang. I believe that I have to be in o­ne place to build up my base."

Teng gained controversy as far back as 1999 when he was involved in tussle with Liu over the party candidacy for the Petaling Jaya Utara parliamentary seat - previously a DAP stronghold until the seat was lost to the MCA in the 1995 general election.

Liu subsequently failed to win back the seat, and had to face criticism by Teng that he could have garnered more support.

Teng was embroiled in another crisis in 2001 after publicly calling for Lim not to stand for re-election and for DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock to move out of the Kota Melaka parliamentary constituency to make way for younger leaders.

His problems in the party continued to dog him well into this year when he lost his Youth chief post in January to Pantai Remis state assemblyperson Nga Kor Ming. This was partly due to the poor support given to him by the party's national leaders.