Choice of audit firm is suspect, says ex-DAP man
KLANG: A former DAP branch leader yesterday questioned the party’s choice of its audit firm to conduct its Central Executive Committee (CEC) re-election in Shah Alam last month.
Former DAP deputy chairman for Taman Ehsan branch in Klang, L. Pannerselvam, questioned the appointment of Tan Kok Wai as DAP national chairman despite Gobind Singh Deo receiving more votes in the re-election on Nov 12.
“DAP members and delegates, who were eligible to vote in the re-election, would like to call on Lim Guan Eng (DAP secretarygeneral) to sign a statutory declaration that Grant Thornton is an independent audit firm and that it was the first time DAP had dealings with it.
“Many grassroots members have asked why Grant Thornton was chosen from the top four audit firms (in the country)?”
At a press conference here, Pannerselvam claimed that DAP members suspected that the reelection was not carried out properly, including its vote counting, which was done behind closed doors.
“We want answers from the DAP leadership.
“We also do not want DAP to use the rocket logo in the next general election as we suspect that the re-election was not done properly.”
On the appointment of DAP office-bearers by CEC shortly after the re-election, Pannerselvam said Gobind should have been made the party national chairman after coming in second with 1,198 votes.
Pannerselvam said the appointment of Tan was unfair and showed that the Indian community in the party was being sidelined.
“Why such discrimination by DAP?
“Is it because he (Gobind) is an Indian?
“There are not many Indian leaders in CEC, and the appointment of P. Ramasamy (Penang deputy chief minister II) also came at the last minute after Hannah Yeoh declined her appointment to the committee.
“I believe Ramasamy should have rejected the post as he was only appointed after Hannah declined it.”
In the re-election, Gobind obtained 18 more votes than Guan Eng and one vote less than veteran leader Lim Kit Siang.
DAP held the second re-election following an order from the Registrar of Societies.