Stay away from trouble, DAP leaders told

Karpal Singh responds to questions on the controversial Kelantan land deal allegedly involving DAP’s Perak chairman Ngeh Koo Ham and secretary Nga Kor Ming

GEORGE TOWN: DAP national chairman Karpal Singh has called all party leaders and elected representatives to stay away from trouble that could create negative public perception on their integrity and dignity.

He said it would be bad for the party party leaders or elected reps were to be perceived of any wrongdoing.

“Hence, DAP leaders and elected reps should not put themselves into a position where there would be a public perception of any wrongdoing.

“They should be extra careful and stay away from such trouble,” he told a press conference during his Bukit Gelugor parliamentary constituency visit here today.

He was responding to questions on the controversial Kelantan land deal allegedly involving DAP’s Perak chairman Ngeh Koo Ham and secretary Nga Kor Ming.

The two cousins from Perak have issued denials and legal threats in the past week following revelation that they were allegedly given 10,000 acres of prime forest land by the PAS-led Kelantan administration as part of an elaborate deal to have PAS’ Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin appointed as Perak Menteri Besar after Pakatan Rakyat captured the state in the 2008 general election.

The allegations were made by the Pisau.net blog and by the Mole portal which said the land at Gua Musang, Kelantan was being held by the Perak DAP senior leaders under a company named Upayapadu Plantation Sdn Bhd.

Having been in denial, silent and switch off modes on their alleged involvement with Upayapadu, the duo have now confirmed they were investors in the project.

But they denied any wrongdoing.

Ngeh confirmed on Friday that the federal government had given out a loan for the project, adding however that it was wrong to suggest that they were “awarded” the land.

However, Ngeh and Nga have not addressed the main allegation that the land deal was part of a discussion to allow Nizar to assume the Mentri Besar job.

The Pisau.net blog alleged that Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, the PAS spiritual leader, brokered the controversial deal.

CEC to ask for clarification
Internally, said Karpal the party central executive committee would soon ask Ngeh and Nga, both elected CEC members, to clear the air on the issue.

“We don’t want any negative perception on the party,” insisted the senior parliamentarian.

Nizar, Ngeh and Nga’s reign in state power was short lived anyway when the 2009 constitutional crisis led to the collapse of the Pakatan administration and Barisan Nasional taking over Perak.