ZAHID TO MEET ROS NEXT WEEK ON VALIDITY OF DAP’S CEC

DPM to meet RoS chief over matter next week

DEPUTY Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will meet the Registry of Societies (RoS) next week to seek clarification on the validity of DAP’s central executive committee (CEC) line-up.

Following accusations that the CEC was not recognised due to an alleged electoral fraud back in 2012, Zahid reminded DAP leaders to stop speculating on whether their party would be de-registered and let the issue be determined by the RoS.

“I will be meeting the RoS and its director-general, Datuk Mohammad Razin Abdullah, next week for a clearer picture.

“After the meeting, I expect a detailed report on the matter,” he said after attending a Gawai Dayak celebration at Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas’s house here yesterday.

On Saturday, the prime minister’s press secretary Datuk Seri Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad said the RoS had yet to recognise DAP’s CEC line-up.

Tengku Sariffuddin’s statement received an immediate response from DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, who claimed that the party could be de-registered before the 14th General Election.

A fresh CEC polls was held in 2013 following orders by the RoS, which, however, could not be contacted yesterday for clarification.

Zahid said DAP secretarygeneral Lim Guan Eng had earlier applied for the RoS to recognise the line-up.

“However, I have not received any review on this (application).

“Thus, everything has not been finalised yet. So, I hope DAP leaders will stop speculating on the issue.

“I do not see any attempt (by RoS) to de-register DAP. Having said that, we need to look into the constitutional aspects as well.”

Zahid reiterated that RoS’ responsibility was to ensure that all registered organisations and political parties acted in accordance with federal and state constitutions.

“They (RoS) need to make sure the committees are legitimate and qualified, so as to protect the interest of the party and its members.

“RoS is under my (home) ministry. I believe it will look into the case in detail. If there is any decision to be made, it will be furnished with a (detailed) explanation.”

Meanwhile, Universiti Utara Malaysia Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak said claims by Kit Siang over DAP’s possible de-registration were only a red herring to distract people from the party’s woes.

“DAP, for example, is riddled with many internal issues. That is why the party is claiming that it could be de-registered before GE14. By blaming the government through a preemptive attack, it hopes to garner public sympathy.

“At the same time if DAP put up a dismal performance in GE14, this can help them justify the results,” Mustafa said yesterday.