The DAP disciplinary committee will take action against its renegade Penang leader Goh Kheng Huat for ignoring a party ban by participating in the campaign for the Indera Kayangan by-election in Perlis today.

Committee chairperson Chong Eng confirmed that the matter will be investigated and appropriate actions will be meted out.

Goh's action also irked party secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock who said it was a "breach of party discipline"

"His argument that he is there in his personal capacity is untenable," Kerk told malaysiakini.

Goh (left), who is the member of parliament for Nibong Tebal, was spotted with Keadilan candidate Khoo Yang Chong and his supporters at the nomination centre this morning.

The party's central executive committee recently ruled that DAP will not help any party, including its former allies in the opposition front for the by-election scheduled for Jan 19.

It was also decided that disciplinary action will be taken against any party leader or member who contests or assists in the by-election.

On Tuesday, Kerk sent a letter to Goh officially informing him to adhere to the two conditions.

However, Goh said he would pledge support for the Keadilan candidate in the by-election regardless of the consequences.

A protege of former Penang DAP strongman Gooi Hock Seng who defected to Keadilan, Goh said he will leave it to party members to decide on his action.

No exceptions

In a related matter, DAP publicity secretary Ronnie Liu failed to show up in Indera Kayangan today despite his initial plan to do so.

Liu was supposed to be present in his capacity as the advisor of the Save Our School Committee (SOS) and is said to have obtained the clearance from the DAP central executive committee.

SOS is a lobby group comprising local residents who are fighting to re-open the old site of the SJK(C) Damansara in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, which has been shut down for more than a year.

The group is currently in Indera Kayangan highlighting their plight and said they will campaign for any candidate - Keadilan's Khoo or MCA's Oui Ah Lan - who supports their cause.

When contacted, Liu declined to elaborate beyond saying, "Something cropped up and I am waiting."

Meanwhile, DAP deputy national chairperson Karpal Singh said the directives of no-assistance and no-contest in the Indera Kayangan by-election applies to everyone within the party.

"In view of the possibility that his (Liu's) presence may be twisted and manipulated by certain people, we don't want anything like that to happen," he said.

Karpal also stressed that the directives are "clear-cut" and that no one should be given any exceptions.

A total of 7,976 voters in Indera Kayangan will poll next Saturday for their new state assembly representative after incumbent Khor Liang Tee died of colon cancer last month.