‘AUDIT FIRM MUST BE NEUTRAL’
Ex-DAP member says polls should be fair and just
NUR AQIDAH AZIZI SEREMBAN nur@nst.com.my
INDEPENDENT audit firms free from conflict of interest should be appointed as the observer to monitor the DAP central executive committee (CEC) re-election.
Former Taman Bukit Mas DAP secretary S. Vijayan said the party’s move to appoint an independent auditor as announced recently was rejected by grassroots members because the firm had links with DAP leaders.
“We understand that the firm has links with DAP leaders and this makes the firm unfit to become an independent observer for the CEC. We have proof, but at the moment, it can’t be disclosed,” he said.
He added that the CEC re-election, as ordered by the Registry of Societies (RoS), should be fair and just.
“Appointing an audit firm with links to the party will not serve its purpose. There are many other independent firms that can be appointed to monitor the re-election,” he said here yesterday.
Vijayan said grassroots members also objected to the decision made by “unlawful” DAP leaders.
DAP last week gave in to RoS’ directive to hold fresh polls for its CEC, but it is understood that the party would appoint PKF Accountants and Business Advisers as an independent auditor to monitor and handle the re-election.
Vijayan said the appointment of an audit firm agreeable to all members was crucial to ensure that the re-election would be conducted transparently.
“We want the DAP to follow the grassroots requirements by appointing audit firms like Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers or Ernst & Young,” he said, urging DAP to stop giving excuses and expedite the CEC re-election.
He questioned the silence and inaction of DAP assemblymen, members of parliament and lawmakers over the unlawful CEC in 2012.