Suspended DAP leader Steven Ho today lashed out at Malacca state chief Sim Tong Him for siding with state deputy chairperson and Tengkera state assemblyperson Goh Leong San in a dispute between the duo.

Ho, who is the Bukit Beruang branch secretary, and Goh are at loggerheads after an incident on Nov 16 last year that subsequently resulted in disciplinary action and a suspension term for both.

In a telephone interview, Ho questioned Sim's leadership capabilities when he held a press conference and openly supported Goh despite a party gag order on the matter.

"What type of leader is that?" Ho asked, adding that Sim has also asked the disciplinary committee to sack him.

He said that Sim, who is also the Bandar Hilir state assemblyperson, did not contact him for an explanation but attacked him via the press after the incident.

Ho and Goh exchanged heated words and were embroiled in a physical brawl after accusations were hurled against one another for the poor organisation of a DAP Wanita organisation last November.

Ho received a 30-day suspension term while Goh got off with just three days.

"I feel unfairly penalised by the disciplinary committee," Ho said, adding that he planned to appeal the suspension.

According to Ho, the findings of the committee that Goh had "touched him" verified his earlier claim that he had been threatened by Goh.

Police report

Ho said that he made a police report as he was "attacked" by Goh and not because he wanted to hurt the party's image.

"I had to protect myself," he said.

Ho called upon party secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock, who is Kota Melaka member of parliament, to take a stand on the matter and "not let Sim lead the other party members astray".

When contacted, Kerk declined to comment on the matter.

Ho also said that Sim should face disciplinary action for openly challenging the party's decision to keep mum on the matter.

Following the disciplinary committee's suspension orders, Goh had walked out of the party's Malacca headquarters and set up a makeshift office under a tree opposite the headquarters. He was later joined by Sim and state secretary Lim Jak Wong, who is also Bachang state assemblyperson.

Welcome back party

At the end of Goh's three-day suspension, the state committee members led by Sim organised a 'welcome back' tea party.

Sim also wrote a protest letter to disciplinary committee chairperson Chong Eng over Goh's suspension.

When contacted, Sim confirmed sending the letter but declined to reveal its content, saying that a gag order had been reissued by the party's leadership today.

Meanwhile, Chong said that both sides can still send in their appeals pending the expiry of the 14-day appeal period next week.

Last Tuesday, the party disciplinary committee announced the suspension of Ho and Goh for their involvement in a fracas at the party's Melaka headquarters on Nov 16.

Ho claimed that Goh pushed him after he commented on the "poor organisation" of a Melaka Wanita DAP meeting.

Meanwhile, party members who backed Goh also lodged police reports against Ho for allegedly using vulgar language disparaging Goh's family members.

On another matter, Chong confirmed that the party will be taking disciplinary actions against renegade DAP leader Goh Kheng Huat for defying party decision not to campaign with opposition parties in Indera Kayangan.

When asked, Chong said that although other members of the party were also present in Indera Kayangan, none except Goh, who is also MP of Nibong Tebal, actively participated in the campaigning.

However, she said that the disciplinary committee has not met to discuss the matter.