ROS orders DAP to hold yet another party election
The Registrar of Societies (ROS) has instructed DAP to hold a fresh election for its central executive committee.
ROS director-general Mohammad Razin Abdullah said the decision was made after ROS found that DAP's earlier re-election held on Sept 29, 2013, was not in accordance with the law.
"With regard to complaints by DAP members about the CEC re-election process held on Sept 29, 2013, the ROS is of the opinion that the appointment of the CEC and main office-bearers through the re-election is legally invalid.
“The re-election should have been based on the delegates’ list used for the DAP CEC election held on Dec 15, 2012 involving 2,576 delegates from 854 branches," he said in a statement today.
The decision was announced after Razin met with Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
"I have met with the deputy prime minister, who is also the home minister, and he urged that any action taken by the ROS should be in accordance with the Societies Act 1966 and DAP's constitution," he said...
The Registrar of Societies (ROS) has instructed DAP to hold a fresh election for its central executive committee.
ROS director-general Mohammad Razin Abdullah said the decision was made after ROS found that DAP's earlier re-election held on Sept 29, 2013, was not in accordance with the law.
"With regard to complaints by DAP members about the CEC re-election process held on Sept 29, 2013, the ROS is of the opinion that the appointment of the CEC and main office-bearers through the re-election is legally invalid.
“The re-election should have been based on the delegates’ list used for the DAP CEC election held on Dec 15, 2012 involving 2,576 delegates from 854 branches," he said in a statement today.
The decision was announced after Razin met with Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
"I have met with the deputy prime minister, who is also the home minister, and he urged that any action taken by the ROS should be in accordance with the Societies Act 1966 and DAP's constitution," he said.
If the DAP complies, it will be the third election it holds for its leadership for the 2013-2016 term.
The DAP had on Sept 29, 2013, voluntarily held a re-election after an excel spreadsheet error affected the results of the initial election held on Dec 15, 2012.
The leadership's 2013-2016 term expired last September, but DAP is able to postpone its election for 18 months in accordance with its constitution. This was to prepare for the upcoming general election.
Razin emphasised that it was not ROS' intention to deregister the DAP and wants it to conduct the re-election so that its leadership can be recognised.
"I would like to stress that the ROS considers DAP as a legitimate party in accordance with the law and has no intention of de-registering the DAP," he said.
He added that a notice will be sent to the DAP soon instructing for the re-election to be held.
Ahmad Zahid's meeting with the ROS came after the prime minister's press secretary Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad raised questions about the DAP's registration status.
Meanwhile, DAP legal bureau chief Gobind Singh Deo said he was informed of the decision, but the party has yet to receive formal word from the ROS.
"I hope the ROS will write to us officially so that we can actually look at the matter before we decide what to do.
"A lot of people are saying many different things so I think it's best for me to look at the letter first and discuss it before we decide what to do next," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.
Some DAP leaders, including Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong, had accused the government of a conspiracy to deregister the DAP.
