Lim dismisses charges of nepotism, double standards

Allegations of nepotism in leadership and double standards in the handling of party dissidents have loomed large as DAP holds its 16th national congress that opens in Penang today.

However, a top leader has quashed these allegations and sent out a strong message to the 2,576 delegates who will also be voting for a new central executive committee (CEC) - the party's key decision-making body - today: unite, or face the consequences in the coming general election if you don't.

"Maintain unity, whatever the results of the party election. There is no point winning the party election but losing the general election," DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said in an exclusive telephone interview with Malaysiakini.

"We need to go into the election as one team, with one soul," Lim said.

For Lim, whose father Kit Siang is a veteran leader of the party and its national adviser, charges of nepotism levelled against him and others in the party are "unfair".

This is because those in the party with blood ties with the leadership do not obtain any favour or special position.

"Nepotism means that the family members get favours (that others do not). I would like to ask: what favours did we get? Unless you think going to prison is a favour?" he said.

Lim was jailed 18 months in 1999 under a Sedition Act charge for criticising the government's handling of a statutory rape allegation against former Malacca chief minister Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, made by one of his underaged constituents. He was released 12 months later.

"Whether it is DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh's sons or myself, we are all elected representatives (MPs and state assemblypersons), selected by the people.

"We were also elected by the delegates to be on the CEC," he added.

Umno practises nepotism but...

Lim, who can opt for one more term as secretary-general, went on to turn the tables on his political opponents, pointing his guns at Umno, which he claims practises nepotism but in a double-standard manner.

"Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar (left) was also elected by the people and members of Umno Youth," said Lim, referring to the Rembau MP, who is the son-in-law of former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"But we wonder why he was not made a deputy minister at least. Is it because the top Umno leadership, or Prime Minister Najib Razak, thinks that the delegates have made an unwise choice?" asked the Penang chief minister.

"Instead, the post was given to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's son and Jerlun MP Mukhriz."

Lim was referring to the long-time practice of Umno, where the person holding the position of Umno Youth chief is made a deputy minister.

However, the Bagan MP is not taking the allegations of nepotism in the DAP lightly either.

He urged all members, and his opponents as well, to judge DAP leaders on their own merits, saying that whatever positions the DAP leaders held, they have worked hard to obtain their posts.

"Please judge us by our performance, whether in state or party positions. I am sure that in this area (performance), we not only match but fulfil the expectations of the people."

DAP has also gone through several internal feuds, which it seems to have been kept in check.

In Selangor, it's an open secret that state assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim cannot see eye-to-eye with state DAP chief Teresa Kok.

In Penang, there have for long been hints of factionalism between Lim and state DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow, of which Lim said he was tired of these rumours being fanned to throw the party into disarray.

Most recently, Lim's political secretary and state DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) chief Ng Wei Aik lost his bid for the national Dapsy leadership to the Johor wing's chief Tan Hong Pin, who is said to be not from Lim's faction.

However, party supporters have dismissed Ng's loss in the battle as an indication of decreasing support for Lim.

One rather explosive affair was the 'Godfather vs Warlord'battle between Karpal and Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, over Ramasamy naming several election candidates in a Tamil newspaper report, which was later withdrawn by the daily.

Karpal, the Bukit Gelugor MP, has often spoken his mind about controversial issues related to the party, such as the DAP's relationship and its future within Pakatan Rakyat, besides being overtly critical of PAS' Islamic policies.

He has also reiterated his one seat-one candidate proposal, much to the chagrin of some within the party, but the veteran leader says this issue should be decided by the delegates at the congress.

However, no one within the party has castigated Karpal for his media outbursts, unlike former DAP vice-president Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim, who quit the party in a huff after being ticked off for his media comment on Bersih.

Lim defends Karpal for airing views
Lim argued that DAP allows its members to express their views freely, but they should be aware that certain matters should be discussed internally, though those who speak out have often got away with a slap on the wrist.

For Karpal, who has served DAP for some 30 years, the party has shown greater leniency, said Lim.

"Karpal is the chairman of the party. He is allowed to express his views in the media. We stand by him. Although we may sometimes disagree or have different views, we support him.

"Karpal speaks freely within the CEC and party, and also to the media. In the party's constitution, only the chairperson and secretary-general can speak on behalf of the party and issue statements that reflect the party's views and stand," said Lim.

"Some people say we have been very lenient with Karpal but not with the others. They ask ‘how come he can speak so freely to the media but we cannot?'

"They also accuse him of not setting a good example for the other party members and say the leaders practise double standards when dealing with Karpal...

"All I have to say to them is ‘become the chairperson first, then you will have the same leniency'."

Lim said Karpal has earned his right to be where he is for he has contributed much to the DAP and deserved the chair in light of his past record and services to the party.

It will be interesting to see if the current leadership led by Karpal and Lim will be undermined by these issues in the DAP as the 66 hopefuls, many of whom are on the outgoing CEC, vie for the 20 seats today.