NST's report on CEC invalidation a 'malicious lie'

English language daily The New Straits Times (NST) has landed itself in the soup, inciting the anger of DAP over its report on the Registrar of Societies' (ROS) invalidation of the party's central executive committee (CEC) polls results.

Its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the “BN media” leaves the party no choice but to take legal action as its report on Aug 1 entitled 'Accept invalidation of CEC polls' was a "rumour and a malicious lie."

In the report, the NST had stated without attributing anyone that "a total of 753 DAP members had complained of being denied their right to attend as delegates, the party's congress where the CEC election was held".

Lim denied that the claim, stating it was a  "complete lie and no such thing" as there had been no such complains from that many delegates.

"There were (complaints) from a disgruntled few but not from 753 delegates.

"It appears that ROS gave credence to such lies," the Penang Chief Minister said in a press conference today.

Lim said this appears to be the basis on which the ROS had decided to invalidate the party's CEC polls, although it had not provided any grounds when it issued the invalidation letter, only stating it was "unsatisfied" with DAP's explanation.

He added that DAP had earlier asked the ROS who the 753 purported delegates were but no reply was forthcoming.

He added that DAP continue to ask ROS, and had issued it a letteryesterday, to clarify on what grounds and which provision of the Societies' Act it used to justify its action against the party.

‘Who is Augustus Chen?’

Lim also refuted allegations in an anonymous booklet by one Fr Augustus Chen, who wrote in detail about the alleged irregularities of the internal polls, which was held in Penang, in December last year.

"Who is this Augustus Chen? There is no such person. We don't even know if he exists but we would like to know who he is," said Lim.

The DAP's war with ROS came in the wake of a technical glitchwhich had surfaced during the CEC election, which was announced by Lim himself.

Following this, several disgruntled members lodged reports with the ROS over the computer error, urging the party to hold fresh elections.

The dissidents, especially those who were sacked for bringing ill repute to the party, questioned the validity of the CEC.