DAP members are allowed to campaign in the upcoming Indera Kayangan by-election as part of another group and not under the party's name, said a DAP leader today.

Party secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock said this in reference to publicity secretary Ronnie Liu's decision to go to the northern constituency as the advisor of the Save Our School Committee for SJK(C) Damansara.

Apart from Liu, who had informed the party of his responsibility in the school's committee, the party is not aware of any other leaders or members going to the by-election, said Kerk.

Kerk added that no directive is necessary from the party leadership to forbid members from going to Indera Kayangan as party members should abide by the decision of the central executive committee (CEC) not to be involved in the by-election.

However, he was unable to confirm if the members in breach of this decision will face expulsion, but said that each case will be evaluated separately by the party's disciplinary committee.

"It's time to be tough. We can't forever take a moderate approach to things," he told malaysiakini in a telephone interview.

Diciplinary action

Party deputy chairperson Karpal Singh was quoted in the News Straits Times today as saying that party members would face disciplinary action, including expulsion from the party, if they helped in the opposition campaign.

Kerk urged DAP members who disagree with the CEC's decision to check with the committee as to the considerations taken when it made the decision.

"Members should not make excuses just so that they can go to Indera Kayangan. There has to be trust in the leadership's decisions," said Kerk.

Kerk also stated that the question of personal capacity does not arise in this circumstance as members will be participating in a political campaign.

"Personal capacity decisions only arise when involving religious beliefs or conscience voting," he added.

Malaysiakini reported last week that the party leadership was split on whether to help the opposition Barisan Alternatif front in the by-election.

'Symbolic gesture'

When asked, Kerk denied that DAP's decision not to help BA was a 'symbolic gesture' to distance the party from its former allies.

"The fact is, we have quit. If we still help them, people will be asking what's the difference between whether we quit (from BA) or not," he said.

Meanwhile, DAP Nibong Tebal MP Goh Khen Huat stressed that although he is going to the state constituency in Perlis, he will be doing so strictly in his personal capacity.

"I will only reconsider this if the party leadership issues a directive forbidding DAP leaders to proceed to Perlis," said Goh.

The party's CEC decided on Dec 30 to stay away from the Indera Kayangan by-election as it does not want to be seen as supporting PAS, which had been championing for the Islamic state cause if it came to power.

However, several DAP leaders have since said that they will join Keadilan in their personal capacity despite the party's decision.