Jeff Ooi to face disciplinary committee on Aug 5

The committee wants to know why he chose to go to the media to air his criticism against fellow state leader in Penang.

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP central committee member and Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi will face the party’s Disciplinary Committee this Friday after calling for the resignation of Penang state executive councillor Wong Hon Wai.

DAP Disciplinary Committee (DC) chairman Tan Kok Wai said the committee had asked Ooi to be present at the hearing which would be held at the party headquarters here at 4pm on Friday.

“We have called him to appear at the hearing to explain his action. We want to know why he chose to go to the media to air his criticism. The DC will look into this, the truth behind it,” he told Bernama when contacted.

Tan said the DC was not just about meting out punishment for the wrongdoings of party members, but also played an important role to uplift the image or reputation of the party.

“There are unlimited avenues in the party for the leaders or grassroots members to voice out their criticism. People will not support the party if it is seen lacking in discipline,” he said.

Ooi, the chief of staff for Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, and Wong who is also the state DAP treasurer, had been exchanging barbs over low-cost housing applications in Penang.

It was reported that Ooi and Wong, who is state Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman, were at loggerheads over a name list for low-cost houses in Batu Lanchang.

The feud came out in the open when Wong claimed that Ooi did not do his homework when submitting a name list of 178 people who applied to buy low-cost houses in his constituency.

Ooi then retaliated, saying it was a “baseless claim” and called on Wong, whom he labelled as a “little Napoleon”, to resign from his post.

Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who is state Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman, said Ooi had gone “overboard and crossed the line of decency” in his attacks.

Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, had issued a gag order to party members from making statements over the spat between the two.

Asked if Wong would also be called for the hearing, Tan said it was not necessary at the moment.