DAP chides ROS for making letter demands

A major battle appears to be breaking out between the Registrar of Societies (ROS) and DAP, with the political party chiding ROS for making an irreverent request for old letters that only showed the department had erred in its duty.

In its latest salvo, ROS director-general Abdul Rahman Othman said he was still waiting for DAP to hand over 500 original letters from DAP delegates confirming their absence at the party's central executive committee (CEC) elections on Dec 15 last year. 

DAP won't give in. Digging in its heels, DAP said it was puzzled why ROS had taken a step backwards, after its July 30 clearance for the party to hold CEC elections, which DAP also agreed to comply with on Sept 29.

"Is Abdul Rahman (left) now prepared to admit that the decision of the ROS was premature, without first verifying the facts and that it is now willing to reconsider its decision? 

"Will Abdul Rahman also give us his full assurance that the ROS will revoke his decision directing the DAP to hold re-elections if we show him the original letters he now wants to see?" DAP's legal bureau head Gobind Singh Deo asked in a press statement.

Gobind said ROS should have no basis for its July 30 decision if it had not first seen the letters.

"Abdul Rahman is treading on very thin ice. He should make up his mind and stop making things difficult and embarrassing for himself," he added.

Furthermore, ROS also said it has not received official notificationof the CEC re-election, which has been widely publicised. 

Gobind, who is also Puchong MP, simply refuted this comment as "nonsensical and misplaced".

DAP has said it conceded to the ROS directive to hold fresh election for its CEC even though it maintained that ROS, which has been investigating DAP since early this year, has acted unprofessionally.