It’s final: No new DAP poll

Party chief Karpal says the decision cannot be challenged in court.

PETALING JAYA: DAP’s decision against conducting a fresh election of its central executive committee (CEC) is final and cannot be challenged in court, said party chairman Karpal Singh.

The veteran politician said in a media statement today that Section 18c of the Societies Act 1966 gives the party the power to make a final decision on the matter.

“I hope my reference to Section 18c will put the matter to rest once and for all,” he said.

Recently, the DAP admitted that there was a glitch in the tabulation of votes at the party election last month.

An audit showed that appointed CEC member Zairil Khir Johari garnered 803 votes as opposed to the 305 announced earlier, enough for him to become an elected member. Vincent Wu, on the other hand, received 669 votes as opposed to the 1,202 announced at the end of the voting. He had to vacate his seat among elected CEC members and join the ranks of appointed members.

Yesterday, two DAP leaders lodged a report with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) claiming there was manipulation in the vote tally.

Karpal expressed disappointment with the two, saying they should not have taken up the matter with ROS because there was no mala fide on the part of the party leadership.

“The matter should have been taken up with party leadership, which has taken great pains to explain it,” he said.