Was there a conspiracy behind the defeat of DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and his wife Betty Chew in the party's Malacca polls?

According to DAP parliamentarian Teresa Kok, yesterday's contest was 'manipulated' by certain individuals whom she did not name.

Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon, she said the outcome was heartbreaking.

"We feel very sad. Although we know this is a democratic process, we believe his (Lim) and Betty's defeat were caused by manipulation, which I do not wish to go into details," she added.

However when pressed, she replied: "I have been told that word spread that as secretary-general, Lim did not need to be voted in but would be automatically included in the state committee."

This, she claimed, had led some delegates to vote for others in order to give them a chance to sit on the 15-member committee.

"That's why they did not vote for him," she said, without shedding light on how this too had affected Lim's wife.

The parliamentarian also told reporters that the 'manipulation' extended to branches where some delegates were disqualified from voting.

Kok said she did not know the full details save for those relayed to her by "unhappy delegates". "I wouldn't know because I'm not the national organising secretary," she stressed.

National organising secretary Tan Kok Wai could not be reached for comment as he is currently abroad.

A 'humiliating' defeat

DAP Bandar Hilir state assemblyperson Goh Leong San was elected as the new Malacca chief yesterday, taking over from his mentor, Sim Tong Him.

Sim, a long-time political adversary of Lim, had stepped down after holding the post for 15 years in the highly factionalised state party.

Goh polled the highest number of votes with 83 while Lim came last with 27 votes. His wife, who is also the Malacca Wanita wing chief and Kota Laksamana state assemblyperson, garnered 33 votes for the second last position.

The couple ranked the lowest among the 17 candidates, leading certain quarters to consider this as a 'humiliating' defeat.

Meanwhile, Kok also pointed out that the defeat was a 'setback' for the national leadership.

"This defeat has somehow impacted or discouraged the party leadership. I would like to express my strongest disappointment and regret to the delegates and certain people believed to be responsible for this," she said.

Kok denied that the outcome could be interpreted as a sign of disapproval for Lim's year-long stint as secretary-general.

Detractors have argued that he had landed the powerful post because of the influence of his father Lim Kit Siang, a former secretary-general and current opposition leader.

However, Kok pointed out that Lim was an accepted party leader as he was elected into the leadership by the national delegates last year.

Nevertheless, Lim did not fare well in that contest and had only managed to secure 276 votes, the 12th highest among the 20 members elected into the central executive committee.

The committee later appointed Lim as the secretary-general.

Kerk factor

She also ruled out that former Malacca state chief Sim and another veteran, Kerk Kim Hock, had anything to do with Lim and Chew's defeat.

Kerk, the former secretary-general, had accused the couple of sabotaging his campaign for the Kota Melaka parliamentary seat in the 2004 elections.

"I called Kerk yesterday and he was also shocked. He said he has retired from politics and did not interfere in the elections. I don't think Sim played a part, I see him as a more matured leader," said Kok.

Kok also lashed out at the new Malacca state chief, claiming that Goh had never attended any CEC meetings since his appointment a year ago.

"So I hope that since he is state chief now he can demonstrate his leadership and work together with the party (central leadership)," she added.